11  #^ 


„„,,,  .t  *•  """'"»'■""  *««,. 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


Presented  by  Mr.  Samuel  Agnew  of  Philadelphia.  Pa. 


Ao-jicw  Coll.  on  Baptism,  No. 


a.  I 


H 


4 


THE  WHOLE  TRUTH, 


RELATIVE  TO  THE 


CONTROVERSY 


BETWIXT  THE 


^mi^M(S^S9  iB^iP'iPii^^§3 


COMPILED  AND  ARRANGED 


BY  HENEY  HOLCOMBE,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  church,  in  Philadelphia. 


PART  I. 


He  that  answereth  a  matter  before  he  heareth  it,  it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him. 

SoLOMOir. 
Both  our  law  judge  any  man  before  it  heareth  him,  and  know  what  he  doeth  ? 

NiCODEMUS. 


PHILADELPHM: 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  COMPILER,  BY  J.  H.  CUNNINGHAM. 

1820. 


CERTIFICATE. 

Without  expressing  any  opinion  on  the  merits  of  the 
pamphlet,  entitled  "  The  Whole  Truth,"  &c.,  I  do  hereby 
certify,  that  I  have  examined  the  extracts  contained  in  it, 
which  purport  to  be  taken  from  the  letters  of  the  Rev. 
Doctors  Fuller  and  Furman,  and  from  a  printed  commu- 
nication of  John  King ;  and  find  them  to  have  been  faith- 
fully copied,  from  said  letters  and  communication,  without 
any  variation  in  the  words,  or  the  sense.  The  whole  of 
these  writings,  it  is  true,  are  not  given ;  but  so  much  of 
them  as  the  author  has  cited,  will  be  found  in  the  originals 
now  in  his  possession. 

EZRA  STILES  ELY,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  the  third  Presbyterian  church,  in  Philadelphia, 
Feb.  22,  1820. 


INTKODUCTORY  REMARKS,         -   ^ 


IT  is  high  time  the  controversy  between  the  American  Baptists 
should  be  fully  and  fairly  laid  before  the  religious  public.  This  order 
of  Christians,  it  is  supposed,  including  their  adherents,  can  be  little 
short  of  half  a  million:  so  that  the  confusion  and  discord  into  which 
they  are  thrown,  are  not  inconsiderable  evils ;  especially  as  they  ali- 
enate their  mutual  affections,  and  sink  them  in  the  esteem  of  other 
denominations.  Many  enquire,  with  solicitude,  whether  the  influence 
which  has  produced  this  mass  of  pernicious  effects,  is  o(  foreign  or 
domestic  origin.  That  there  is  a  Babylonish  garment,  a  golden  wedge, 
or  an  Achan,  in  their  camp,  has  become  incontrovertible.  It  is,  on  all 
hands,  confidently  concluded,  from  the  existing  state  of  things,  that 
there  is  some  selfish  Metropolitan,  who  has  systematized  his  mea- 
sures, and  enlisted  his  agents,  to  manage  the  resources  of  these  peo- 
ple to  his  own  advantage.  But,  how  to  designate  the  arch-hypocrite, 
amid  the  complicated  foldings  of  deep  disguise,  and  well-disciplined 
ranks  of  fame-guards,  is  the  difficulty.  The  enquiry  employed  to 
solve  it,  has  resulted  in  a  general  impression,  that  this  demi-pope  ex- 
ists, either  in  Dr.  Henry  Holcombe,  or  Dr.  William  Staughton :  and* 
at  present,  if  we  may  judge  from  Mr.  Lewis  Baldwin's  Letters,  and 
the  Corresponding  epistle  of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  at 
her  session  in  1819,  appearances  are  much  against  Dr.  Holcombe.  In 
Mr.  Baldwin's  performance,  consisting  of  ninety-two  octavo  pages. 
Dr.  Holcombe  is  represented  as  possessing  the  art  and  address  which 
have  imposed  on  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  State,  and  two  Uni- 
versities ;  and  is  stigmatized  as  the  author  of  a  nameless  production, 
equally  false  and  detestable ;  and  the  associational  epistle  exhibits 
him  as  an  offender  of  such  magnitude  and  enormity,  that  two  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  ninet^'-four  accusers,  who  represent  them- 
selves, as  "  sound  in  the  faith  and  pious,"  have  risen,  in  the  majesty 
of  their  strength,  to  banish  him,  as  it  would  seem,  from  the  earth,  as 
unfit  for  human  society.  Acts  xxii.  3,2.  And,  in  addition  to  these  au- 
thorities, it  is  well  known,  that  the  Rev.  Luther  Rice  has  signified 
that  Dr.  Holcombe  is  the  cause  of  all  the  discordance  which  has  agi- 
tated the  Conventions,  Missionary  Boards,  and  Advisory  Councils,  ot 
the  Baptists,  from  Maine  to  Georgia. 

This,  though  much,  is  not  all,  his  opponents  have  advanced,  and 
widely  circulated,  against  Dr.  Holcombe  :  a  board  of  missions  have 
silently  exterminated  his  name  from  their  publications.  Now,  should 
he  remain  silent  under  all  these  charges  and  insinuations,  and  espe- 
cially as  a  whole  association  has  levelled  her  artillery  at  him  alone, 
the  public  would  naturally  impute  sucji  silence  to  a  consciousness  ot 
LTivunaUtTf, 


IV 

in  appealing,  however,  from  so  great  a  number  of  witnesses  and 
judges,  to  a  far  higher  tribunal,  it  should  certainly  be  with  unfeigned 
diffidence,  and  testimony  amply  sufficient  to  prove  himself  innocent 
of  what  they  have  laid  to  his  charge  :  but,  whatever  may  be  the  result 
of  the  present  controversy,  all  will  admit,  that,  before  he  is  condemn- 
ed, he  should  be  patiently  heard:  and,  if  able  to  show,  by  disinterest- 
ed characters,  of  undoubted  and  high  respectability,  that  all  the  accu- 
sations of  which  he  is  the  subject,  are  either  false,  or  frivolous,  let 
him  be  honourably  acquitted,  and  his  accusers  estimated  according  to 
their  deeds.  One  thing  is  clear  :  if  Dr.  Holcombe  can  solidly  vindi- 
cate himself  from  the  allegations  of  his  opponents,  he  is  strongly  bound 
to  do  it. 

Who  can  suppose,  that  he  could  peacefully  descend  to  the  grave, 
and,  from  the  fear  of  man,  or  a  spurious  delicacy,  leave  his  religious 
friends  and  posterity,  to  hear  him  reproached,  as  a  disturber  of  the 
peace  and  good  order  of  society,  with  adequate  means  in  his  own 
hands,  as  he  believes,  to  prevent  that  posthumous  infamy  ?  It  maybe 
fairly  presumed,  that  all  who  know  the  value  of  reputation,  will  say, 
as  with  one  voice,  if  Dr.  Holcombe  can  prove,  to  the  satisfaction  of  a 
correct  and  candid  public,  that  the  present  contentions  betwixt  the 
American  Baptists,  originated  from  sources  beyond  the  sphere  of  his 
influence,  and  through  the  instrumentality  of  characters  above  his 
control,  he  is  under  all  the  obligations  which  duty  and  honour  can  im- 
pose, to  do  it,  without  the  least  avoidable  procrastination.  In  attempt- 
ing to  furnish  a  clue  to  just  perceptions  of  the  present  controversy,  so 
far  as  Dr.  Holcombe  has  been  involved  in  it,  how  natural  is  the  ex- 
clamation, "  Behold  how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth  !"  James, 
iii.  5. 

It  may  be  confidently  relied  on,  that  the  original  question  in  this 
atliiir,  was,  virtually,  Shall  Dr.  Holcombe  be  suffered  to  enjoy  reli- 
gious liberty,  in  Philadelphia  ?  Standing  fast.  Gal.  v.  1.  in  this  pre- 
cious gift  of  God  to  man  for  a  while,  in  opposition  to  individuals,  a 
party  was  formed  for  the  unconcealed  purpose  of  driving  him  from  this 
city,  by  a  combination  of  systematical  efforts.  Passing  private  en- 
deavors to  effect  this  object,  as  unsusceptive  of  such  proof  as  some 
might  require,  a  few  shall  be  stated  of  too  public  a  nature  to  admit 
of  contradiction. 

The  attack  made  on  him  in  the  first  Baptist  convention  for  foreign 
missions,  is  of  the  utmost  notoriety  :  and,  from  its  importance,  in  the 
present  case,  it  may  be  proper,  not  only  to  adduce  its  cause,  but  trace 
it  into  several  of  its  legitimate  consequences. 

Soon  after  Dr.  Holcombe  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  he  was  informed, 
and  thoroughly  convinced,  by  the  Rev.  John  P.  Pcckworth,  that  the 
Uev.  William  White,  then  pastor  of  the  second  Baptist  church  of  this 
city,  was  a  lewd  and  dissolute  character:  and  this  appalling  convic- 
tion was  corroborated, byavaiietyof  corresponding  testimonj'!  Hence, 
when  the  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton  nominated  Mr.  White  as  a  suitable  per- 
son to  he  on  a  conventional  committee,  Dr.  Holcombe,  before  that  ve- 
nerable body,  questioned   the  propriety  of  this  nomination,  on  the 


ground  of  Mr.  White's  at  least,  very  doubtful  standing  in  religious 
society.  Instead,  under  these  circumstances,  of  leaving  the  parties 
immediately  concerned,  to  settle  this  aftair,  Dr.  Staughton  rose,  and 
expressing  sovereign  contempt  for  any  opposition  his  friend  could  re- 
ceive from  Dr.  Holcombe,  said,  "  Vll  support  you,  brother  White ;" 
and  this  promise,  it  must  be  admitted,  was  performed,  with  unweari- 
ed zeal  and  activity,  until  Mr.  White's  circumstances,  in  his  religious 
connexions,  became  desperate.  As  one  of  the  consequences  of  that 
rupture,  Drs.  Holcombe  and  Rogers,  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Baptist 
board  of  foreign  missions,  were  dropped,  in  silence,  from  their  minutes. 
This  negative  thrust,  was  considered  as  intentional  and  foul  calumny. 
'*  In  most  cases,"  as  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Timothy  Dwight  observes, 
"  words  are  made  the  vehicle  of  slander.  It  may,  however,"  he  adds, 
**be  accomplished  without  words.  When  we  are  reasonably  expect- 
ed," he  continues,  "  to  give  a  fair  character  of  another,  we  may  easily, 
and  deeply  slander  him  by  silence."  Dwight's  Theology,  Vol.  IV. 
page  3 76. 

Had  the  Vice-Presidents  submitted  to  this  public  insult,  all  must 
allow  they  would  have  been  wanting  in  a  proper  regard  to  the  feel- 
ings, and  reasonable  expectations  of  their  friends.  Thus  was  Dr. 
Holcombe  first  arraigned  before  the  public  by  his  present  opponents. 
This  assault  he  repelled,  as  publicly  as  he  received  it.  Amongst 
other  facts,  it  is  believed,  he  clearly  evinced,  that  the  silence  which 
he  justly  resented,  issued  from  the  embarrassment,  united  with  malevo- 
lence, of  his  chief  opponents,  Messrs.  Staughton,  Rice,  and  White. 

Through  the  combined  influence  of  the  same  brethren,  the  first 
Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia,  standing  firmly  betwixt  them  and  her 
pastor,  was  not  suffered  so  much  as  to  read  her  solemn  protest  against 
the  proceedings  of  the  council  in  which  they  were  leading  members. 
This  imperious  policy  was  evidently  intended  to  prevent  the  disclo- 
sure of  facts  embraced  in  that  instrument,  and,  eventually  led  to  its 
publication.  Thus  was  the  church  compelled,  either  to  defend  or  re- 
linquish her  invaded  rights.  In  their  next  session,  which  was  in  ISIT, 
with  a  view  to  Dr.  Holcombe's  banishment  from  the  city,  as  i\\(i\r  ulte- 
rior object,  they  struck  with  all  their  force  at  this  church,  in  denoun- 
cing her  protest  as  false  and  atrocious,  and  threatened  her  if  she  per- 
sisted in  the  course  she  was  pursuing,  with  exclusion  from  their 
body. 

Soon  after  these  ecclesiastical  menaces,  a  mere  spectator,  as  it 
would  seem,  of  those  conflicts,  published  a  piece,  signed  "  Plain 
Truth;"  and  by  an  exhibition  as  lucid  as  pointed,  of  several  impor- 
tant facts,  "set  on  fire  the  course  of  nature."    James,  iii.  6. 

Highly  exasperated  with  Dr.  Holcombe,  from  a  suspicion  that 
he  was  the  author  of  this  anonymous  publication,  they  convened 
in  1818,  prepared  for  summary  measures.  Nevertheless,  to  that 
session,  this  church  sent  a  respectful  letter,  and  a  delegation  worth v 
of  herself,  in  the  sincere  hope  of  convincing  ail  the  impartial  and  un- 
prejudiced of  that  body,  of  the  rectitude  and  necessity  of  her  protest : 
but  she  was  reeeirod  with  such  stern  indignitv,  and  treated  so  dcs- 


VI 

potically,  that  her  delegates,  asserting  her  independence,  declared  in 
the  most  explicit  terms,  a  dissolution  of  her  connexion  with  that  body, 
and  withdrew  from  it,  agreeably  to  their  instructions. 

Yet,  astonishing  as  it  may  seem,  this  association,  afterwards  form- 
ed a  resolution  in  reference  to  the  withdrawn  church,  and  gravely 
informed  the  religious  public,  that  they  had  excluded  her  from  their 
community  ! 

This  was  another  outrage  on  their  usages,  not  to  be  borne,  without 
public  animadversion  :  accordingly,  a  pamphlet,  entitled,  "  MUrepre- 
sentations  Exposed,"  was  published  for  that  purpose.  Some  months 
after  this  piece  was  in  circulation,  a  contradiction  to  it  appeared  in  a 
series  of  abusive  letters,  addressed,  chiefly,  to  Dr.  Holcombe,  by  the 
unfortunate  Lewis  Baldwin.  An  immediate  and  pleasant  replica- 
tion to  this  essay,  was  made  in  Miller's  Strictures. 

Here  it  was  hoped,  by  the  moderate  and  judicious  of  both  parties, 
that  the  present  controversy  would  terminate :  but  the  corresponding 
letter,  now  taking  its  rounds,  manifests,  as  some  conceive,  a  malig- 
nant pleasure  in  its  continuance. 

On  first  reading  this  effusion.  Dr.  Holcombe  intended  to  take  no 
further  notice  of  it ;  but  learning,  since,  that  it  spreads,  in  a  separate 
form,  as  well  as  with  the  minutes  of  the  association,  to  diffuse  its  lea- 
ven throughout  the  whole  mass  of  the  American  Baptist  churches,  at 
the  instance  of  some  of  his  most  enlightened  friends,  he  determin- 
ed to  bestow  on  it  the  attention  of  a  few  leisure  hours. 

As  this  contest  is  personal,  and  Dr.  Holcombe's  part  in  it  has  ever 
been,  and  will  continue  to  be,  of  a  purely  defensive  nature,  he  hopes 
for  permission. 

First:  To  explain,  by  an  extract  from  one  of  his  letters  above  allu- 
ded to,  the  real  cause  of  that  silence  with  which  he  was,  virtually, 
expelled  from  the  Baptist  board  of  foreign  missions  : 

Secondly  :  As  his  opponents  have  succeeded  in  making  many  be- 
lieve, that  he  is  the  author  of  the  anonymous  piece,  commonly  called 
"Plain  Truth,"  he  considers  himself  bound,  in  self-defence,  to  give  a 
fair  specimen  of  the  manner  and  matter  of  that  performance :  and  this 
he  does  without  assuming  the  least  responsibility  for  its  contents, 
though  he  neither  knows,  nor  suspects,  any  thing  in  it,  to  be  untrue. 

Thirdly  :  He  has  a  right,  it  will  be  admitted,  to  avail  himself  of 
statements  by  the  first  Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia,  respecting  the 
grounds  on  which  she  withdrew  from  the  association,  as  constituting 
a  material  article  in  his  defence. 

Fourthly  :  He  introduces  Miller's  Strictures,  as  an  answer  to  Bald- 
win's letters ;  and, 

Fifthly  :  A  reply  to  the  association's  corresponding  letter,  will  con 
dude  this  little  volume. 


'^t 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER   <^q    %^ 

ON  THE  '.;  ...tvj^^'^ 

jSiience  of  the  second  annual  report  of  the  Baptist  board  of 
foreign  missions,  relative  to  their  exchange  of  Fice- Pre- 
sidents, by  Henry  Holcomhe,  D.  D.  Pastor  of  the  frst 
Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia. 

"  There  is  a  time  to  speak." — Solomon. 

RECOMMENDATION. 

"  The  same  spirit  which  has  disorganized  our  board  of 
foreign  missions,  has  reared  its  brazen  front  in  the  asso- 
ciation.^ Those  who  may  covet  an  acquaintance  with  it, 
should  read  a  letter  lately  published  by  Dr.  Holcombe. 

"Witnesses  of  the  first  respectability  testify  that  this  pro- 
duction by  no  means  exaggerates  the  obliquities,  not  to  say 
the  enormities  it  exposes.  We  need  add  no  more  than  that 
the  leading  characters  in  the  tragedy  which  that  letter  cor- 
rectly exhibits,  were  the  actors  in  our  truly  farcical  Asso- 
ciation," of  1816. 

Misrepresentations  Exposed,  by  the  first  Baptist 
church  of  Philadelphia,  page  25, 

Before  we  commence  the  extract  in  view,  we  would  pre- 
mise, that  the  letter  from  which  it  is  taken,  was  written  to 
a  friend,  immediately  after  the  circumstances  to  which  it 
adverts  occurred.  The  writer  sent  it  to  press,  without  re- 
questing the  aid  or  concurrence  of  an  individual.  As  it  was 
of  incontrovertible  verity,  he  deemed  authorities  imneces- 
sary. 

A  few  allusions,  and  figurative  expressions,  in  this  letter, 
are  reduced,  in  the  extract,  to  literal  and  explicit  terms. 

When  the  author  wrote,  he  hoped  that  "  great  plainness 
of  speech,"  on  the  points  in  debate,  might  never  be  neces- 
sary :  hence  he  was  intentionally  ambiguous,  on  several  de- 
licate points  :  but  from  unavailing  hints,  he  proceeds  to  a 
plain  statement  of  fiacts. 


8 
EXTRACT,  &c. 

Philadelphia^  Aug,  26,  1816. 
Thomas  Gillison,  Esq^uire,  S.  C. 
Dear  Sir, 

The  {generous  attention  you  have  paid  to  foreign  mis- 
sions, entitles  you  to  correct  information,  respecting  their 
concerns.  This,  however,  is  not  to  be  obtained  through 
the  medium  of  any  public  vehicle  within  my  knowledge. 
And  as  in  reading  the  first  and  second  annual  reports  of 
the  board,  you  look  for  a  degree  of  truth  and  candour 
which  those  pieces  do  not  contain,  by  this  address  I  hope, 
in  some  degree,  to  supply  their  deficiencies. 

The  agreeable  acquaintance  we  have  had  for  twenty-five 
years,  emboldens  me  to  use  this  freedom  ;  and  especially 
as  it  has  been  your  painful  lot  to  witness  my  severe  trials 
while  presiding  in  that  body.  ^ 

Under  this  circumstance  you  have  seen  my  envied  seat 
almost  literally  shaken  by  my  opponents.  And  recently 
they  have  contrived  to  put  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Ro- 
gers and  myself  out  of  office.  This  achievement  is  an- 
nounced by  the  trump  of  Silence. 

In  the  second  annual  report  of  the  board,  their  Vice-Pre- 
sidents, enrolled  with  honour  in  all  their  preceding  publica- 
tions, are  excluded  from  every  page.  It  is  too  obvious  to 
admit  a  doubt,  that  this  measure  was  intended  to  operate 
against  their  characters.  Except  in  case  of  disability,  death, 
or  resignation,  the  ofiicers  of  the  board  are  permanent,  by 
the  Constitution. 

Now,  if  they  are  out  of  office  from  either  of  these  causes, 
why  are  not  the  public  informed  of  the  fact  ? 

It  is  with  reluctance  I  enter  on  this  enquiry ;  but  how- 
ever unpleasant,  it  should  certainly  be  prosecuted  to  a  cor- 
rect result. 

Favour  me  with  your  attention,  and  you  must  soon  per- 
ceive the  true  cause  of  their  silence,  with  respect  to  what 
has  become  of  their  Vice-Presidents. 

In  the  convention  of  1814,  I  made  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt to  keep  the  Rev.  William  White's  name  from  our 
minutes,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  dishonour  which  now 


rests,  through  his  anticipated  defection,  on  the  missionary 
and  the  Christian  cause. 

A  reasonable  time  afterwards,  I  pressed  the  return  of  the 
Rev.  Luther  Rice  to  India,  agreeably  to  his  engagements, 
though  contrary,  as  we  have  long  known,  to  his  intentions. 
A  while  after  this  unpopular  step,  I  took  an  active  part  in 
opposing  the  appointment  of  Mrs.  Charlotte  H.  White,  as 
a  foreign  missionary  :  and,  on  finding,  through  a  channel 
of  undoubted  respectability,  that  before  a  quorum  of  the 
board  were  apprized  of  her  wish  to  see  India,  her  clothes 
were  purchased,  and  assuming  fitness  for  the  voyage,  I 
frankly  manifested  my  cordial  disapprobation  of  this  under- 
handed policy.  In  the  next  place,  I  ventured  to  oppose  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  in  an  attempt  he  made  to  influence  the 
board  in  favour  of  engaging  our  funds  to  support  Mrs. 
White,  a  young  widow,  in  case  she  should  marry  the  cele- 
brated Felldc  Carey, 

The  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Montanye,  an  honorary  member, 
being  present  on  that  occasion,  aided  the  minority  in  pre- 
venting an  appropriation  from  our  treasury  for  this  singular 
purpose.  About  this  time,  Mr.  Judson  addressed  a  com- 
munication to  the  board  which  drew  from  me,  the  follow- 
ing remarks :  It  is  said,  by  an  old  adage,  "  Straws  show 
which  way  the  wind  blows ;"  and  it  is  obvious,  that  si- 
lence, in  some  cases  may  express  more  than  volumes.  With 
the  power  of  this  twin-sister  of  darkness,  Mr.  Judson  is 
evidenty  acquainted.  Informed  of  all  the  circumstances 
which  produced  our  .board,  he  has  imparted  to  this  body 
an  important  article  of  intelligence  in  "  expressive  silence." 

He  may^  indeed,  according  to  the  suggestions  of  Dr. 
Staughton,  have  said,  in  epistles  which  have  not  come  to 
hand,  that  Mr.  Rice  left  India  under  the  influence  of  pure 
missionary  zeal,  and  with  the  sincerest  intention  to  return ; 
butj  all  we  can  affirm  is,  that  Mr.  Judson,  in  his  only  com- 
munication to  the  board,  does  not  lisp  a  syllable  respecting 
his  long  absent  colleague  ! 

In  thus  extolling  the  power^  I  probably  provoked  my 
oj^ponents  to  the  abuse  of  silence. 

But  it  is  one  of  the  excellent  maxims  of  the  divine  go= 

B 


10 

vernment,  to  suffer  the  weapons  which  are  employed  in  the 
best,  to  be  abused  in  the  worst  of  causes. 

Thus  you  see  how  I  was  impelled,  from  my  views  of 
rectitude,  to  expose  myself  to  the  revenge  of  my  oppo- 
nents. They  probably  thought  themselves  injured,  and 
were  certainly  much  provoked  by  my  opposition  :  but  had 
I,  through  fear  of  their  resentments,  acquiesced  in  their  con- 
duct, or  even  connived  at  it,  I  must  have  been  unfaithful 
to  the  trust  reposed  in  me,  as  an  officer  of  the  board,  and, 
of  course,  wounded  my  own  conscience. 

Permit  me  now  to  trace  the  steps  by  which  the  majority- 
fell  into  an  embarrassment,  which,  united  with  revenge^ 
produced  their  silence. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hough  having  been  called  by  the  board 
to  a  missionary  station  in  Burmah,  and  his  wife,  a  gay  young 
woman,  with  two  small  children,  refusing  to  proceed  vvith 
him,  without  a  female  companion,  Mrs.  White,  at  her  v/rit- 
ten  request,  was  placed  in  this  capacity. 

Very  shortly,  however,  after  thus  accommodating  the 
ladies,  they  separated,  with  strong  symptoms  of  nmtualaver- 
sion ;  and  continued  apart  as  long  as  they  remained  on 
shore,  in  this  country. 

Mrs.  White  affirming,  that  she  would  never  live  in  the 
servile  state  of  a  companion  for  Mrs.  Hough,  nor  go  to  In- 
dia, except  she  were  put  on  an  equality  with  male  mission- 
aries, the  majority  made  a  strenuous  effiDrt  to  gratify  her 
with  this  elevation.  To  prevent  it,  if  possible,  and  for 
other  purposes,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1815,  Dr.  Ro- 
gers, the  Rev.  Daniel  Dodge,  the  honourable  William 
Moulder,  and  your  friend,  presented  a  common  letter  of  re- 
signation to  the  board  :  and  three  of  us,  immediately  after- 
wards, retiring,  a  quorum  for  business  was  not  left  on  the 
floor.  Our  motives,  in  tendering  this  letter,  though  diffi^r- 
ent,  prevented  the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose.  This 
result  was  of  the  most  provoking  nature.  One  of  her  ad- 
vocates, and  a  gentleman  of  no  less  weight  in  the  board 
than  the  Recording  Secretary,  the  Rev.  William  White,  had 
averred,  that  no  arguments  which  his  opponents  could  use, 
should  prevent  the  association  of  our  amiable  widow,  on 
grounds  of  reciprocity,  with  male  missionaries :  but  the 


11 

wise  ate  sometimes  taken  in  their  own  craftiness.  1  Cor, 
iii.  19. 

In  consequence  of  this  measure,  we  gained  time  to  ex- 
pose the  unconstitutionality,  and  inexpediency,  of  the  ap- 
pointment in  question  :  and  found  we  were  not  alone  in  op- 
posing this  quixotic  enterprize. 

At  the  next,  which  was  an  adjourned,  meeting  of  the 
board,  as  members  and  officers,  we  claimed  attention  to  our 
grievances :  and  the  more  effectually  to  secure  this  right, 
withdrew  our  tender  of  resignation.  Several  members  con- 
sidering us,  as  having  no  further  claim  on  the  board,  we 
told  them  that  if  they  would  assert,  and  affix  their  signa- 
tures to  the  assertion,  that  less  than  a  quorum  have  a  right 
to  accept  the  tendered  resignation  of  a  member,  or  that  af- 
ter such  a  tender  he  has  not  a  right  to  withdraw  it,  while 
unaccepted,  we  would  immediately  retire  and  give  them  no 
further  trouble.  Refusing  to  make  either  of  those  asser- 
tions, they  admitted,  that  we  remained  entitled  to  our  seatSj 
as  members,  and  as  officers  of  the  board.  Matters  thus  set- 
tled, we  proceeded,  with  the  appearance  of  harmony,  to  bu- 
siness. In  correspondence  with  this  decision,  at  a  subse- 
quent session,  Mr.  Dodge,  not  withdrawing  his  tender,  a 
motion  for  its  acceptance  was  made,  and  carried  with  but 
one  dissenting  voice. 

Thus,  you  see,  there  was  an  admission,  in  both  theory 
and  practice,  that  less  than  a  quorum  cannot  accept  the 
tendered  resignation  of  a  member,  and  that  a  tender  may 
be  withdrawn  at  any  time  anterior  to  its  acceptance. 

We  have,  indeed,  been  blamed  for  resorting  to  the  only 
means  in  our  power  to  prevent  the  infraction  of  our  consti- 
tution, as  we  conceived,  and  the  misapplication  of  our  funds, 
by  "  out-generaling,"  as  is  said,  in  this  instance,  our  op- 
ponents— but  we  were  sure,  that  to  tender  a  resignation  could 
not  be  unlawful :  that  to  withdraw  it  at  any  time  before  its 
constitutional  acceptance,  might  be  both  lawful  and  expe- 
dient: and,  that,  as  the  well-known  case  oi^. prophet  shows, 
we  are  not  obliged  to  explain  all  our  views,  nor  to  commu- 
nicate all  we  know,  to  opponents.  Jeremiah  xxxvii.  14 — • 
27,  inclusive. 

Under  these  circumstances,  ©n  putting  the  questioir. 


t2 

respecting  the  intended  promotion  of  Mrs.  White,  five 
of  the  members  present,  signifying  their  opposition  to  it, 
only  Messrs.  Staughton  and  White  answered  in  the  af- 
firmative. Mrs.  White,  of  course,  was  continued  as  Mrs, 
Hough's  companion,  and,  contrary  to  her  former  determi- 
nation, sailed  with  our  missionary  family,  in  the  Benjamin 
Rush,  for  Calcutta. 

It  is  necessary  to  observe,  that  for  eight  months  after  this 
adjustment  of  our  differences,  I  continued  the  acting  pre- 
sid'i'nt  of  the  board,  and  was  treated  to  a  greater  degree  than 
I  had  been  at  any  time  before,  with  the  respect  due  to  my 
office.  We  made  unavailing  efforts,  and  in  one  instance, 
as  it  seemed,  unitedly,  to  get  Mr.  Rice  off  for  India,  even 
under  his  liver-complaint,  and  without  a  wife  ;  but  after  se- 
vera!  evasions  he  boldly  declared  that  he  never  considered 
himself  under  an  appointment  to  return  to  that  country  ! 

At  tliis  stage  of  our  affairs,  comparative  amity  was  the 
order  of  the  day ;  and  we  appeared  to  have  nothing  on  the 
carpet  that  threatened  the  brightening  prospect  before  us 
with  obscuration ;  but  though,  in  the  board,  commotions 
had  thus  subsided,  our  ecclesiastical  hemisphere,  chiefly 
from  Mr.  White's  intrigues,  was  overcast  with  porentous 
clouds. 

The  materials  of  a  storm,  from  the  influence  of  all  the 
preceding  causes,  were  collected  in  the  bosoms  of  my  op- 
ponents. Though  their  words  were  smoother  than  oil,  they 
could  not  forget  my  opposition  to  what  I  deemed  the  ex- 
ceptionable parts  of  their  conduct,  nor  forgive  the  success 
which,  in  a  few  instances,  attended  it. 

Hence,  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  last  May,  in  this  city, 
with  a  view  to  severe  retaliation,  they  adjourned  to  the  19th 
of  June,  in  New  York  ! 

Though  I  did  not,  then,  know  the  specific  object  of  this 
adjournment,  I  could  but  observe,  that  my  opponents  look- 
ed unusually  wise,  and  easily  discovered,  by  the  averted 
glances,  and  occasional  elevation  of  their  eyes,  that  they 
were  deeply  influenced  by  some  great  object :  but  as  great 
is  relative,  you  should  not  be  disappointed  if  what  they  had 
in  view  were  very  inconsiderable,  otherwise  than  as  com- 
pared with  their  own  missionary  exploits.    It  has  since  ap- 


13 

peared,  that,  some  time  before  this  manoeuvre,  to  ensure  its 
mtended  effect,  correspondences  had  been  extensively  main- 
tained, for  the  purpose  of  giving  such  colourings  to  my 
conduct,  as  might  draw  wise  and  good  men,  from  distant 
parts,  to  assist  Messrs.  Staughton,  White,  and  Rice,  in  dis- 
placing a  troublesome  inmate,  considered  as  a  spy  on  their 
deeds,  and  an  obstacle  to  the  accomplishment  of  their  pro- 
jects. The  scene  of  my  anticipated  humiliation  was  fixed 
where  the  intended  actors  might  be  most  effectually  con- 
cealed, and  among  those,  should  any  descry  their  retreat, 
least  acquainted  with  the  conspirators  and  their  opponents. 
Their  plan  of  operations,  which  had  for  its  exclusive  ob- 
ject my  expulsion  from  the  board,  will  be  best  explained 
by  the  unprecedented  manner  of  its  execution. 

On  the  day,  and  in  the  place  appointed,  they,  and  those 
•who  had  been  drawn,  by  their  deceptive  arts,  to  strength- 
en their  hands,  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  your  almost  soli- 
tary friend  in  the  midst  of  his  enemies.  A  very  retired 
apartment,  of  small  dimensions,  had  been  wisely  chosen  for 
the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose.  In  the  liberal,  and 
populous  city  of  New  York,  a  gloomy  shed  was  selected 
for  a  deliberative  body,  including  several  eminent  ministers 
of  the  gospel ;  and  in  so  private  a  situation,  that,  during  the 
whole  session,  even  the  eye  of  female  curiosity,  it  is  believ- 
ed, in  no  instance,  so  much  as  peeped  at  us ;  and,  besides 
the  conclave,  there  could  not,  I  think,  at  any  time  have  been 
present  more  than  twenty  males  ! 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Baldwin,  president  of  the 
board,  had  been  prevented  from  meeting  with  us,  on  that 
occasion,  and  as  the  consequence,  your  friend  was  called  to 
the  chair. 

The  tragedy  to  be  performed,  was  now  opened,  as  many 
sanguinary  plots  have  been,  by  at  least,  the  appearance  of  a 
religious  exercise.  Some,  I  doubt  not,  endeavored  to  please 
God  in  it ;  but  others,  I  have  reason  to  fear,  from  their 
works,  regarded  it  merely  as  the  prelude  to  their  favorite 
catastrophe. 

The  book  of  such  minutes  of  the  board,  as  its  directors 
had  seen  fit  to  record,  was  distinctly  read  ;  and  a  committee 
appointed  to  recommend  for  consideration,  things  on  v/hich 


14 

they  had  decided  in  caucus,  according  to  their  own  decla- 
ration, before  they  left  Philadelphia. 

They  now  formally  assumed  the  power  to  ratify,  or  dis- 
annul, any  of  the  former  acts  of  the  board  !  This  entering 
wedge,  was  followed  by  a  series  of  correspondent  resolu- 
tions. 

Observing  that  I  held  a  folded  paper  in  my  hand,  and  not 
supposing  they  could  relish  its  contents,  they  resolved,  that 
nothing,  whatever,  should  be  read  to  the  board,  during  that 
session  !  Accordingly,  they  would  not  suffer  Dr.  Rogers  to 
assjst  his  memory,  by  looking,  occasionally,  on  his  notes ; 
and  in  speaking  without  these  prohibited  articles,  order ! 
order !  was  vociferated,  whenever  the  flashes  of  his  eloquence 
rendered  their  darkness  visible.  The  fire  of  their  zeal  in- 
creasing, for  the  first  time  I  ever  witnessed,  or  heard  of  such 
despotism  in  a  deliberative  body,  I  was  denied,  I  will  not 
say  the  privilege,  but  the  rights  of  calling  any  member  of 
the  board,  to  take  the  chair,  that  1  might  occasionally  speak 
on  points  in  debate !  And  with  equal  violence  to  the  con- 
stitution, and  all  civilized  customs,  they  would  not  suffer 
me  to  make  a  statement,  from  the  chair,  otherwise  than  by 
their  direction,  and  as  a  matter  of  grace  ! 

Under  these,  I  think  I  may  venture  to  say,  unparalleled 
circumstances,  every  prudent  man  present,  afterthe  example 
of  the  chair,  became  silent,  and  left  a  few  interested  charac- 
ters to  the  unresisted  execution  of  their  designs  ! 

Now,  in  exact  conformity  to  the  plan  of  their  operations, 
which  had  transpired  from  themselves,  they  declared  a  ten- 
dered to  be  a  complete  resignation,  that  their  former  de- 
cision to  the  reverse,  was  sufficient  to  restore  the  Vice-Pre- 
sidents to  membership,  but  not  to  office  ;  and  that,  conse- 
quently, their  seats,  as  officers,  were  vacant,  and  must  be 
immediately  filled  by  balloting. 

Pronouncing  their  proceedings  palpably  unconstitutional, 
1  left  the  insulted  chair,  and  waited,  with  a  few  astonished 
spectators,  to  see  in  what  the  ravings  of  our  missionary 
champions  would  terminate. 

Just  as  had  been  foretold,  they  gave  me  the  go-by,  and 
re-elcctcd  Dr.  Rogers ;  but,  I  scarcely  need  say,  that  he 
had  more  respect  for  himself,  than  by  accepting  their  ap- 


15 

point  ment,  to  admit,  that  he  had  been  out  of  office,  and  of 
course,  acting,  like  the  board,  in  gross  disorder,  during  the 
eight  preceding  months. 

Obliged,  under  these  humiliating  circumstances,  to  ap- 
pear before  the  public,  in  their  second  annual  report,  their 
embarrassment  was  complete ;  and  the  difficulty  of  extri- 
cating themselves,  by  fair  and  honourable  means,  had  be- 
come insuperable. 

They  could  not  say  their  first  Vice-Presidents  were  dead ; 
nor  that  they  had  eloped  from  their  country  ;  nor  that  they 
had  resigned ;  nor  that  they  laboured  under  disabilities  for 
the  discharge  of  their  duties  :  and  to  tell  the  truth  respect- 
ing this  aflPair,  they  knew  would  be  ruinous  to  all  their 
schemes ! 

In  fact,  the  acting  majority,  were  driven  before  the  goads 
o^ revenge  from  Philadelphia,  to  their  selected  hovel;  and 
here,  in  the  perpetration  of  outrageous  deeds,  they  were  so 
suffiacated,  by  their  inflamed  and  discordant  passions,  that 
they  were  unable  to  utter  a  word,  on  their  ingenious  ex- 
change of  Vice-Presidents !  Surely  they  could  not  have 
had  an  idea  that  those  doings  would  ever  be  exposed  to  the 
public  eye. 

But  after  all  their  arts  in  evading  the  presence  of  wit- 
nesses, and  refusing  liberty  of  speech  to  their  opponents, 
the  nature  and  object  of  their  measures,  will,  probably,  by 
slow  degrees,  make  their  way  into  society  :  and  could  the 
public  only  know,  that  a  body  which  might  have  had  the 
use  of  as  commodious  an  edifice  as  any  in  New  York,  im- 
mured themselves  in  an  almost  inaccessible  shed,  this  fact, 
alone,  would  be  an  ample  commentary  on  their  procedure, 
in  all  its  preceding  details  :  but,  in  fact,  their  conduct,  if 
considered,  cannot  be  misunderstood,  by  the  weakest  ca- 
pacities. 

Every  one  must  perceive,  that  were  we  to  patronize  such 
a  board  as  this,  or  even  submit,  in  silence,  to  its  tyranny, 
our  associations  would  next  be  sunk  into  mere  caucusing 
assemblies,  for  low  selfish  purposes,  and  corrupt  and  des- 
potic principles,  spread  their  paralyzing  effects  through  all 
the  American  Baptist  churches. 

Your?,  &c. 


16 

We  proceed,  briefly  to  notice  the  pamphlet  called  "  Plain 
Truth."  An  ample  refutation  of  the  chargCy  that  Dr.  Hol- 
combe  is  the  author  of  this  work,  will  be  found,  by  the 
reader,  in  "  Misrepresentations  Exposed,"  and,  "  Miller's 
Strictures."  As  some  apology  for  those  who  originated  it, 
we  would  remark,  that  the  six  productions  advertized  by 
the  author  of  "  Plain  Truth,"  as  amongst  his  authorities, 
were  all  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Holcombe,  in  different  copies, 
never  intended  for  seclusion  from  the  public  eye.  Hence, 
we  suppose,  many  are  as  confident  that  he  is  the  author  of 
the  piece  in  question,  as  Isaac  was,  that  Jacob's  were  Esau's 
hands  :  or,  as  others  are,  that  they  have  heard  Dr.  Staugh- 
ton's  voice  roll  from  the  lips  of  his  pupils.  Such  are  the 
blunders  made,  for  want  of  considering,  that  many  things, 
with  essential  ditferences,  exhibit,  to  superficial  judges,  the 
same  appearance.  In  this  way  we  may  account  for  the  con- 
fident assertions  of  some,  that  the  style  of  "  Plain  Truth," 
is  peculiar  to  Dr.  Holcombe.  But  certainly  he  is  not  so 
singular  in  his  composition,  that  no  ingenuity  could  coun- 
terfeit it :  yet  this  is  taken  for  granted,  by  his  opponents  I 

Anticipating,  after  all,  that  a  few  will  blindly  ifisinuatey 
that  he  is  the  author  of  this  performance,  and  that  it  con- 
tains a  tissue  of  unfounded  aspersions,  we  shall  simply  add 
here  the  real  author's  authorities,  and,  afterwards,  present 
the  reader  with  an  extract,  taken  verbatuny  from  this  anony- 
mous work. 

The  author's  principal  authorities,  it  would  seem,  from 
his  advertisement,  and  first  note's  references,  are  the  pro- 
test of  a  large  minority,  including  the  Vice-Presidents  of 
the  Baptist  board  of  foreign  missions,  against  the  conduct 
of  that  body ;  a  letter  by  one  of  its  Vice-Presidents,  to  a 
friend ;  a  letter,  signed  by  both  its  Vice-Presidents,  to  the 
honourable  Judge  Tallmadge  ;  a  letter,  signed  by  the  same 
ofiicers,  to  an  attorney  at  law ;  a  letter,  signed  by  a  number 
of  respectable  characters,  to  the  honourable  Judge  Riley  ; 
a  protest  by  the  first  Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia,  against 
the  proceedings  of  die  Philadelphia  Baptist  association;  and 
all  the  churches  in  which  Dr.  Staughton  has  held  his  mem- 
bership, in  passing,  as  "  Plain  Truth"  says,  *'  to  his  pre- 
sent eminence." 


17 

"The  reflecting  reader,  in  slowly  descending  to  the  pro- 
inised  extract,  will,  very  naturally,  indulge  his  wonder, 
that,  while  this  author,  because  anonymous,  it  may  seem, 
has  been  loaded  with  unqualified  abuse,  his  numerous  au- 
thorities, as  such,  have  suffered  not  even  a  public  contra- 
diction !  !  ! 

But  ^^  Plain  Truth,^^  shall  speak  for  himself;  and  the 
reader  is  left  to  judge,  after  due  attention  to  his  referenced, 
whether  he  has  said  any  thing  inconsistent  with  his  signa- 
ture. With  respect  to  this  particular  point  we  invite,  we 
court,  we  warmly  solicit,  investigation. 


EXTRACT,  &c. 

Letters  to  TVilliam  Staughton,  D.  D.  5y  Plain  Trutii^ 

The  judge  asketh  for  a  reward,  and  the  great  man  he  uttereth  his  mischiey^ 
oils  desire  :  so  they  wrap  it  up.  Micaiu 

PHILADELPHIA  :   PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR,      1818. 

LETTER  I. 
Dr.  Staughton, 

I  NOW  commence,  for  your  perusal,  a  series  of  letv 
ters,  to  which  you  will  please  to  receive  this  as  the  preface. 
I  am  aware  that  many  are  for  concealing  every  thing  offen- 
sive, for  the  sake  of  what  they  call  the  cause.  "  Charity," 
say  they,  "  covereth  a  multitude  of  faults."  This  is  true  i 
and  yet  we  agree,  she  refuses  to  "  wrap  up"  presumptuous 
sins.  Charity  spreads  her  veil  over  sins  repented  of  and 
forsaken,  and  weeps  in  the  view  of  disallowed  imperfec- 
tions. She  will  neither  take  up  a  report,  nor  listen  to  the 
most  distant  insinuations,  founded  on  any  of  these  things. 
*'  As  the  north  wind  driveth  away  clouds,  so  she  by  ail 
angry  countenance  serves  a  backbiting  tongue.'*  Her  na- 
turally serene  brow,  is  never  clothed  with  frowns  more  in- 
dignant, than  when  envy  and  malevolence  are  regaling  them- 
selves on  the  lamented  iniquities  of  reclaimed  offenders* 
But,  charity  can,  and  from  her  benevolent  nature,  must  re- 
prove and  rebuke  bold  transgressors,  and  that  with  all  ait' 


18 

thority.  She  exposed  the  wild  ambition  of  Abimelick  by 
a  cutting  parable — ridiculed  the  priests  of  Baal  by  the  keen- 
est irony — called  Elymas  the  sorcerer,  an  enemy  of  all  righ- 
teousness, and  a  child  of  the  devil — awfully  punished  An- 
anias and  Sapphira  for  their  duplicity  and  lies — and  de- 
nounced those  proud  missionaries,  the  Scribes  and  Phari- 
sees, who  compassed  sea  and  land  to  make  proselytes,  in 
terms  of  great  severity.  Keeping  these  things  in  view,  it 
is  hoped  you  will  find  no  breach  of  charity,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, an  unremitted  exercise  of  it,  throughout  the  follow- 
ing pages.  They  are  intended,  and  I  hope  you  will  find 
them  calculated,  to  elucidate,  and  place  in  a  just  and  easy 
light,  various  important  subjects  which  have  remained  too 
long,  for  the  good  of  society,  in  a  very  obscure  state.  My 
design  is  to  give  them  a  specific  form,  which  must  con- 
strain you  to  admit,  or  deny,  their  verity. 

My  impression  is,  that  much  confusion  and  evil  are  in- 
volved in  the  strife  and  contention  of  the  American  Bap- 
tists. My  object  is  to  expose  these  things  as  clearly  and 
as  impartially  as  I  can,  to  the  light.  By  this  means  many 
in  Europe  and  Asia,  as  well  as  nearer  home,  may  be  led  to 
discover  the  real  causes  of  the  troubles  in  your 
CONNEXION.  Placed  as  you  seem  to  be,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  party  of  these  people,  and  hedged  about,  as  you  are 
by  a  multitude  of  devoted  and  active  adherents  and  de- 
pendents, the  truth  cannot  flow  through  ordinary  channels, 
or  I  should  not  resort  to  this  method  of  diffusing  it.  To 
render  facts  within  my  knowledge  credible  to  those  unac- 
quainted with  your  history,  it  is  necessary  to  be  explicit ; 
and  merely  from  the  nature  of  some  of  the  facts  the  inter- 
ests of  truth  will  compel  me  to  state,  I  may  be  thought  se- 
vere. I  might  sign  these  letters  with  my  proper  signature, 
without  fear  of  damages  ;  as  their  contents  admit  of  proof; 
but  I  am  not  a  stranger  to  the  disposition,  nor  instruments, 
that  you  possess  to  persecute,  even  unto  distant  countries. 
It  is  well  known  to  all  near  your  person,  in  the  undress  of 
life,  that  you  cannot  tolerate  the  man  who  thwarts  your 
schemes.  It  appears  to  me,  however,  highly  important,  that 
the  Christian  world  should  be  enabled  to  "judge  righteous 
judgment,"  respecting  your  afliairs.     I  shall  not  be  disap- 


19 

pointed  if  you  denounce  these  sheets,  as  slanderous  and 
vile ;  but  you  will  probably  avoid  a  public  denial  of  any 
particular  allegation  they  contain,  as  this  might  lead  to  its 
establishment  beyond  the  power  of  contradiction.  Your 
policy  has  hitherto  been  flatly  to  contradict  the  most  cor- 
rect assertions,  affecting  your  fame  ;  and  it  must  be  owned, 
that  you  have  been  but  too  successful,  in  bringing  unwary 
strangers  to  take  your  word,  as  conclusive.  But  the  more 
what  I  shall  suggest  and  assert^  is  enquired  into,  the  more 
the  enquirer,  if  candid  and  dispassionate,  will  be  convinced 
that  I  am  governed  by  the  strictest  regard  to  truth  and  jus- 
tice. Some  may  say,  that  admitting  all  I  state  to  be  true,  it 
should  have  remained  in  the  dark,  as  its  exposition,  not 
only  detects  the  guilty,  but  pains  the  innocent.  This  is  the 
language  of  those  who  so  love  peace,  as  to  seek  it,  but  seek 
it  in  vain,  at  the  expense  of  purity  :  and  while  they  com- 
miserate the  few  innocent  persons  referred  to,  harden  them- 
selves against  the  many  thousands  who  are  injured,  and 
like  to  be  very  seriously  injured  by  your  projects.  As  we 
hear  nothing  of  the  millions  of  blanks  sold  in  Lottery  Offices, 
so  we  are  uninformed  of  the  hard  labouring  poor,  who  feel 
the  want  of  that  money  which  you  and  your  agents,  draw 
from  their  scanty  earnings. 

It  is  a  fact,  however  little  known,  that  besides  upwards 
of  ten  thousand  dollars  a  year,  which  are  received  from  the 
good  people  of  these  States,  exclusively,  as  they  may  sup- 
pose, for  missionary  purposes,  and  placed  to  a  very  great 
degree  at  your  disposal,  you  have  contrived  to  make  your 
private  income,  from  various  fees  and  salaries,  at  least  five 
thousand  dollars  per  annum  ! 

I  shall  wound  your  feelings  as  little  as  is  consistent  with 
justice  to  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness.  Ingenuity, 
I  know,  under  any  circumstance,  may  equivocate,  evade, 
or  retort,  and  effrontery  contradict  and  reprobate,  but  I 
would  fain  hope  that  you  will  acknowledge  and  improve 

PLAIN  TRUTH. 


LETTER  11. 

"Dr.  STAtrcHtoN", 

EARLY  in  1812,  as  the  consequence  of  your  prece- 
ding doings,  you  were  encompassed  with  difficulties. 
Debts  were  contracted,  and  accumulating  ;  some  men  were 
so  obstinate,  as  to  refuse  to  submit,  in  all  things  to  your 
WILL,  and  you  were  succeeded  in  your  late  charge,  as  Pas- 
tor of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia,  by  Dr. 
Henry  Holcombe. 

No  time  was  to  be  lost ;  for  you  were  fully  convinced, 
from  report,  and  appearances,  that  without  prompt  and  effi- 
cient measures  you  would  now  have  "  sorrow  upon  sor- 
row !"  Assuming  a  lofty  air,  you  addressed  your  antonish- 
ed  successor,  as  follows  : — "  Arc  you  come  to  Philadel- 
phia, for  peace  or  war  ?"  Before  you  gave  him  time  to  an- 
swer this  inflammatory  question,  you  proceeded  in  a  tone 
and  attitude  of  defiance,  "  If  you  are  come  for  war,  sir,  I 
am  ready  for  you." 

On  his  expressing  surprise  at  your  conduct,  and  assur- 
ing you  that  he  was  a  man  of  peace  ;  you  rejoined  with  an 
elevated  voice,  "  Very  well !  give  me  an  evidence  of  it,  by 
exchanging  pulpits  with  me."  And  when,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  he  replied,  "  I  cannot  do  this  without  con- 
sulting my  friends,"  you  said,  with  great  emphasis, "/>/>«(/« 
have  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  if  you  refuse  the  exchange  I 
propose,  I  shall  consider  it  as  a  declaration  of  war  ;  and 
if  you  and  Second-street,"  as  you  called  his  friends  ;  "  are 
for  war,  I  am  ready  for  you." 

And  although  you  have  insinuated  that  in  throwing  these 
fire-brands,  you  were  in  sport,  you  can  expect  few  to  be- 
lieve it.  Your  object  was  to  draw  the  stranger  immedi- 
ately into  embarrassments.  You  conjectured  that  in  pro- 
portion to  personal  acquaintance  with  him,  w^ould  be  the 
extension  of  his  influence.  The  sooner,  therefore,  you 
made  an  attack  on  him,  the  brighter  was  your  prospect 
of  success.  An  exchange  of  pulpits,  proposed  in  your 
manner  and  terms,  would  have  been  what  you  wanted,  an 
acknowledgment  of  your  supremacy  ;  and  your  appear- 
ance before  his  hearers,  would  have  been  highly  oflensive, 
and  brought  him  into  trouble  at  home;  as,  but  a  sliort  tini^ 


21 

before,  they  had  indignantly  disj^ensed  with  your  services. 
Alas !  alas !  did  you  then  realize  that  you  were  the  pro- 
fessed follower  of  a  meek  and  lowly  Master,  who  enjoins 
the  duty  of  mutual  love  on  all  his  servants  ?  Surely  you 
must  have  forgotten  his  peaceful  precepts,  as  well  as  the 
a,postolic  injunction,  "  Be  courteous,"  and  the  inspired  ex- 
clamation, "  Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  a  thing  it 
is,  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity  !"  If  these  whole- 
some words  had  formed  any  part  of  the  man  of  your  coun- 
•sel,  the  evils  since  witnessed,  would  probably  have  been 
prevented,  and  peace  might  still  have  reigned  in  all  the 
Baptist  churches.  But,  equals,  or  neutrals,  can  never  abide 
unmolested  in  your  presence.  Nothing  so  dangerously  af- 
fects the  whole  course  of  nature  in  you,  as  the  sight  of  in- 
dependence. 

Deaf  to  the  divine  admonition,  '*  Leave  off  contention 
before  it  begins,"  you  rashly  elicited  its  fire,  and  as  we  shall 
see,  blew  it  into  a  flame. 

The  reasons  why,  at  times,  the  most  wary  men  commit 
themselves,  by  acts  of  flagitious  impropriety,  are  difiicult 
to  assign;  but  such  instances  often  occur.  It  may  be  owing 
to  judicial  blindness,  which  has  been  known  to  eventuate 
in  the  emission  of  interesting  facts,  which  else  had  remain- 
ed in  oblivion.  In  fine,  even  a  man  of  your  powers,  what- 
ever may  be  his  principles,  can  do  nothing,  ultimately — 
against  PLAIN  TRUTH. 

LETTER  in. 

Dr.  Staughton, 

In  prosecuting  my  design,  I  shall  now  notice  a  few 
allegations  against  Dr.  H.  Not  long  after  your  demand  of 
an  exchange  of  pulpits  with  him,  he  was  indisposed ;  and 
certain  deacons,  then  your  mutual  friends,  asked  you  to 
preach  for  him.  Informing  him  of  what  had  past,  and  of 
your  willingness  to  officiate  in  his  place,  he  signified  that 
he  hoped  to  be  able  to  preach  himself,  and  "  abruptly,''''  you 
have  alleged,  declined  the  acceptance  of  your  service.  This, 
considered  in  itself,  was  uncourtly  ;  but  may  it  not  be  fair- 
ly presumed,  that  he  was  actuated,  on  that  occasion  by  an 
lan  willingness,  to  subscribe,  even  in  appeardnce,  to  your  terms 


22 

of  peace  ?  He  had  probably  not  recovered  from  the  wounds 
you  had  given  him,  on  the  subject  of  pulpits. 

His  next  transgression,  according  to  report,  was  of  a 
weightier  nature.  The  very  first  sermon  he  preached,  af- 
ter treating  you  as  above,  it  seems,  was  against  adulterers 
and  adulteresses,  with  evident  allusion  to  you  and  "  Mrs. 
Staughton."  This  report  is  untrue.  With  Paul,  he  may 
have  reproved  "  certain  lewd  persons  of  the  baser  sort  ;'* 
but  who  could  venture  to  say  he  alluded  to  you  and  "  Mrs. 
Staughton?"  In  handling  some  subject,  he  possibly  quoted^ 
the  passage  in  which  St.  Paul  maintains  that,  "  The  woman 
which  hath  an  husband,  is  bound  by  the  law  of  her  husband 
so  long  as  he  liveth :  but  if  her  husband  be  dead,  she  is 
loosed  from  the  law  of  her  husband.  So  then" — mark  his 
inference — "  So  then  if  while  her  husband  liveth,  she  be 
married  to  another  man,  she  shall  be  called  an  adulteress." 
What  the  man  who  marries  her  shall  be  called,  as  I  am  not 
a  theologian,  I  must  leave  for  you  gentlemen  of  the  cloth 
to  determine  :  but  I  will  risk  the  conjecture,  that  not  one 
of  all  the  pupils  in,  or  from  your  theological  school,  ever 
recited,  or  would  dare  to  recite  these  inspired  sentences  in 
your  presence.  But,  however  these,  and  some  others,  who 
wear  black  coats,  may  cringe,  submit  to  the  guidance  of 
your  eye,  and  prefer  the  suppression  of  holy  writ,  to  your 
displeasure,  the  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Montamje,  was  not  afraid 
before  you  and  a  large  assembly,  to  say,  with  a  bold  ancl 
elevated  vliice,   "  A  bishop  must  be  the  husband  of  one 

wife;    AND   THAT    NOT  ANOTHER    MAN's   WIFE." 

The  first  open  debate  you  and  Dr.  H.  had,  was  before 
the  assembled  Baptist  ministers  of  Philadelphia.  Ten  or 
twelve  were  present,  and  Dr.  JF.  Rogers  in  the  chair.  To 
*'  wrap  up"  the  case  of  a  disorderly  man,  as  he  proved  to  be, 
^vlio  had  just  been  received  into  your  church,  contrary  to 
the  rules  generally  observed  in  the  Baptist  connexion,  you 
proposed  that  the  assembled  ministers  should  declare  it  as 
their  opinion,  that  any  man,  whether  ordained  or  not, 
baptized  or  not,  moral  or  immoral,  had  a  right  to  adminis- 
ter the  sacred  ordinance  of  baptism  !  You  had  baptized, 
vou  observed,  before  you  \vere  ordained ;  and  you  insist- 
ed, with  not  a  little  warmth,  that  any  man  had  a  right  to 
do  the  same  ! 


23 

Dr.  H.  rose  in  direct  opposition  to  your  "  views,"  and 
had  the  happiness  to  find  all  the  ministers  present,  either 
silent,  or  on  the  side  of  the  order  and  discipline  of  the  Bap- 
tist churches. 

So  deeply  mortifi^ed  were  you  at  this  result,  that  your 
next  proposition  was  to  burn  all  the  minutes  of  the  society. 
To  this  a  smile  was  the  reply  ;  and  you  adjourned,  in  full 
possession  of  your  respective  opinions. 

Not  long  afterwards  a  council,  consisting,  I  think,  of 
twenty,  was  called  by  the  Baptist  church  at  Frankford,  to 
sit  on  certain  difficulties,  which  were  stated  in  a  written 
address.  The  late  Dr.  Samuel  Jones  was  called  to  the 
chair.  You  immediately  introduced  the  case  of  a  woman, 
who  had  been  disowned  by  the  church,  for  very  loose  con- 
duct, and  without  an  application,  by  herself  or  any  other 
person,  strenuously  insisted  on  her  restoration  ! 

Waiting  a  reasonable  time,  and  finding  none  disposed  to 
come  in  contact  with  you,  Dr.  H.  rose,  and  objected  to  the 
taking  up  of  this  business,  as  unconnected  with  the  object 
for  which  the  council  was  called,  as  well  as  from  the  cir- 
cumstance, that  it  was  not  agitated  at  the  instance  of  the 
excommunicated  member.  Again  you  rose,  and  with  your 
usual  zeal  in  such  a  cause,  advocated  the  measure ;  but 
you|,  antagonist  withstood  your  often  repeated  effprts  to 
caity  your  point,  imtil  committing  your  views,  respective- 
ly, to  paper,  those  opposed  to  yours,  prevailed  bv  the  con- 
currence of  four-fifths  of  the  body. 

Thus  you  seemed  to  provoke  controversy,  by  introdu- 
cing, and  endeavouring  to  sustain,  things  of  the  most  inde- 
fensible nature. 

Another  instance  of  this  kind  occurred  in  the  Philadel- 
phia Baptist  Association.  You  advocated  a  discontinuance 
of  all  correspondence  and  intercourse,  with  the  New  York 
Association,  on  the  ground  of  her  continuing  in  her  body, 
a  certain  first  church,  which  once  refused  you  her  pulpit. 
I  do  not  say  that  it  was  from  this  consideration,  that  you 
manifested  so  great  an  antipath/*  to  this  church  ;  because 
it  was  avowedly,  and,  perhaps,  really,  on  account  of  her 
supporting  a  minister  who  had  incurred  your  displeasure. 
Dr.  H.  supported  this  church,  her  pastor,  and  the  continu 


24 

ance  cff  an  aifectionate  correspondence  with  the  New  York 
Association ;  and  in  the  issue  of  this  contest  also,  you 
found  yourself  in  a  small  minority.     Thus  continues 

PLAIN  TRUTH. 

LETTER  IV. 
Dr.  Stauchton, 

TO  the  above,  succeeded  still  more  public  and  obsti- 
nate collisions  between  you  and  Dr.  H.  In  the  Baptist 
Convention  of  1814,  to  promote  foreign  missions,  you 
moved  to  appoint  a  committee,  and  proceeded  to  nominate 
every  member  of  it.  This  may  have  appeared  undesign- 
ing  and  very  innocent,  in  the  eyes  of  some;  but  others  had 
a  sufficient  itnovvledge  of  you  to  view  it  in  a  just  light. 
They  knew  it  was  to  create  and  confirm  underworkers. 
Such  characters  as  these,  presently  discern  their  patrons, 
and  seldom  forget,  that  *'  one  good  turn  deserves  another.'* 
Comparatively  few  men  whose  vanity  is  thus  addressed, 
have  virtue  and  independence  enough  to  reject  the  bribe  ; 
and  still  fewer,  the  boldness  to  denounce  such  an  unfair 
course.  This  conduct  was  calculated  to  exert  a  still,  but 
strong  influence  over  the  mind,  and  to  lay  a  sure  founda- 
tion for  support  under  the  clashings  you  anticipated  in  the 
board  of  foreign  missions.  ^  _ 

Sutfi  management  was  duly  appreciated,  and  of  coilfte, 
not  well  relished  by  Dr.  H.  He  it  appears,  fathomed  your, 
schemes,  ^d  openly  opposed  the  admission  of  William 
White^  into  your  select  committee.  You  pretended  to 
treat  this  opposition  with  great  contempt ;  and  through  the 
aid  of  your  friend's  complaints,  soothed  by  your  promise 
of  support,  excited  the  sympathies  of  that  venerable  body. 
Believing,  as  a  body,  that  Dr.  H.  had  been  led,  by  some 
unaccountable  means,  to  suspect  the  disinterestedness  and 
purity  of  your  intentions,  without  any  just  cause,  they 
sought,  and,  with  some  difficulty,  effected  a  speedy,  but 
as  the  sequel  proved,  a  hollow  reconciliation.  One  effect, 
however,  which  you  muclt  prized,  resulted  from  it.  Mor- 
tified to  find  you  and  your  friend  were  unknown  to  the 
Convention^  and  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  a  litigious  dis- 
position, Dr.  H.  was  passive  at  that  tinK\  under  all  the  rest 


25 

©f  your  doings.  Thus  you  gained  an  important  point,  by 
shewing  a  little  mettle  at  the  first  start ;  and  you  and  your 
friend  proceeded  in  your  joint- labours,  without  any  further 
immediate  interruption. 

In  forming  the  Board,  Dr.  Thomas  Baldwin  was  elect- 
ed President,  Drs.  H.  and  Rogers,  Vice-Presidents,  and 
you  and  White  the  secretaries.  To  mention  all  the  mem- 
bers of  this  body,  as  some  of  them  were  merely  nominal, 
would  be  superfluous.  Several,  from  their  local  situations, 
had  little  or  nothing  to  do  with  your  affairs. 

Seven  members  made  a  quorum,  and  ordinarily,  you  and 
Messrs.  William  White,  John  P.  Peckworth,  and  Horatio 
G.  Jones,  were  the  majority,  and  the  Vice-Presidents,  and 
Mr.  Daniel  Dodge,  the  minority  :  and  those  are  the  only  in- 
dividuals I  shall  allude  to  under  these  denominations.  The 
minutes  and  correspondence  being  in  the  hands  of  you  and 
White, — you  at  the  head  of  the  majority— they,  a  party— 
and  all  your  creatures — you  were  prepared  for  business. 

Your  opponents,  relying  on  their  own  disinterestedness 
and  integrity',  were  quite  off  their  guard ;  and  were  very 
unequal  to  a  contest  with  you  and  your  colleagues,  from 
another  circumstance  :  they  depended  on  your  consciences 
as  having  some  influence  on  your  proceedings,  and  although 
theiF  mistake  was  soon  discovered,  it  was  too  late  to  d©Frec& 
the  errors  which  had  grown  out  of  their  false  security.  Dr. 
H.,  the  acting  President,  was  the  subject  of  your^m wearied 
opposition  and  insults.  His  prostration  was  the  object  to 
which  you  directed  all  your  efforts ;  and  though  you  were 
avi^are,  that  to  depose  a  man  of  his  acknowledged  talents, 
and  piety,  against  whom  the  tongue  of  slander  had  not  dared 
to  wag,  was  a  herculean  task,  circumstances  compelled  you 
to  persevere  in  your  attempts  to  accomplish  it.  In  this  ar- 
duous course  you  were  animated  by  the  consideration,  that 
they  only  are  worthy  of  victory,  who  can  conceive  and  ex- 
ecute great  projects. 

Here  let  us  pause ;  and  considering  the  reception  you 
gave  Dr.  H.  when  he  came  to  Philadelphia,  the  allusions- 
he  is  supposed  to  have  made  to  you  from  the  pulpit,  and 
Iiis  opposition  to  your  views,  before  the  Baptist  ministers 
?>f  this  citv,  at  Frankford,  in  the  association^,  and  when  voii 

D 


26 

were  forming  your  select  conventional  committee,  we  shall 
plainly  perceive  that  his  subsequent  persecutions  arose  out 
of  these  things,  as  an  effect  proceeds  from  its  cause. 

Armed  and  accoutred  as  you  now  were,  with  a  majority 
identified  with  your  own  will^  your  language,  in  effect,  to 
Dr.  H.  was,  "  I  will  now  make  you  rue  the  day  on  which 
you  dared  to  rise  in  opposition  to  my  will." 

After  all,  "  take  heed  and  beware,"  that  you  are  not 
brought  too  late,  to  rue  the  day  that  you  refused  the  admo- 
nitions of  PLAIN  TRUTH. 

LETTER  V. 
Dr.  Stauchton, 

ALL  things  being  ready,  the  board  entered  on  busi- 
ness. The  case  of  Mr.  Luther  Rice  involved  considerations 
of  magnitude.  He  was  sent  with  Mr.  Judson,  by  a  reli- 
gious body  in  Massachusetts,  to  India  as  a  missionary. 

■^  There  they  changed  their  views,  it  seems,  of  baptism,  and 
submitted  to  immersion.  Mr.  Rice  subsequently  return- 
ed to  this  country  ;  for  the  purpose,  it  is  said,  of  forward- 
ing the  original  object  of  the  mission,  by  collecting  funds. 
Finding  himself  rejected  by  his  former  patrons,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  Baptists.  By  them  he  was  noticed,  re- 
ceived an  appointment  to  return  tolndia,  and  became  ins^tru- 
mental  in.  a  wakening  a  missionary  spirit.  This  gave  the 
man  a  commanding  influence.  He  conptantly  held  up  th% 
idea  of  returning,  according  to  his  engagements,  to  the  aid 
of  Mr.  Judson,  when  possessed  of  funds  sufficient  for  the  pur- 
pose. This  of  course,  was  expected ;  but  he  made  vari- 
ous pretexts  for  delay.  He  said  he  had  a  liver  complaint, 
that  would  be  fatal  to  him  in  a  few  months,  were  he  to  re- 
turn to  that  climate.  After  this  sham  had  become  thread- 
bare, he  affirmed  that  he  could  not  go  to  India  without  a 
wife,  nor  obtain  one,  by  any  lawful  means. 

By  these  subterfuges,  he  gained  time  to  devise  new 
schemes.  At  this  stage  of  your  affairs.  Dr.  H.  fell  under 
the  displeasure  of  Mr,  Rice  also,  by  detecting  and  expos- 

\  ing  the  facts^  that  he  had  never  joined  a  Baptist  Church, 
nor  intended  to  return  to  India  !  By  way  of  revenge,  he 
originated  the  report,  that  Dr.  H.  was  an  enemy  to  missions. 


27 

Now  Mrs.  Charlotte  H.  White  presented  herself  as  a 
candidate  for  an  appointment  in  India.  This  was  used  as 
evidence  of  astonishing  zeal,  and  to  damp  it  was  represent- 
ed as  the  effect  of  unparalleled  turpitude.  In  vain  did  your 
opponents  object  to  her  sex,  her  delicate  constitutioh,  or 
want  of  qualifications  for  missionary  service.  For  them  to 
oppose,  was  sufficient  to  engage  you  to  press,  as  you  suc- 
cessfully did,  her  appointment. 

Mr.  Rice  continued  to  occupy  in  the  United  States.  His 
salary  had  been  fixed  at  eight  dollars  per  week,  while  his 
expenses,  great  or  small,  at  his  own  discretion,  were  all  to 
be  borne,  and  he  left  at  liberty,  to  receive  personal  pre- 
sents. He  had  learned  in  the  land  of  his  fathers  how  hard 
it  is  to  get  money,  and  acquired  the  ingenuity  necessary  for 
the  purpose.  His  voyage  to  India  had  increased  his  expe- 
rience, and  completed  his  qualifications  for  mendicity.  He 
knew  and  had  well  considered  the  difference  between  riding 
through  the  hospitable  regions  of  civilization,  abounding 
with  every  luxury,  and  spending  his  strength  in  the  bar- 
barous hoards,  and  sultry  climes  of  India.  He  was  not  will- 
ing to  shoot  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveller  returns,  in 
the  midst  of  life,  though  he  warmly  recommended  this  course 
to  others.  He  was  not  done  with  the  present  world.  His 
treasure  here,  though  not  in  hand,  was  anticipated,  on  good 
grounds.  He  was  receiving  personal  presents,  as  the  agent 
X)f  a  popular  society,  from  a  large  and  liberal  community,  to 
whom  he  declared  his  intention  to  spend  and  be  spent  in 
preaching  the  gospel  to  the  perishing  Hindoos!  and  he  knew 
how  to  awaken  their  sympathies  by  relating  his  fatigue,  and 
dangers  byseaandland,and  speaking  of  the  great  things 
he  was  soon  to  accomplish, by  pecuniary  means.  But 
collecting  money,  though  probably  the  ultimate^  was  not 
the  only  object  of  his  travels.  With  trumpet  tongue,  he 
was  to  sound  your  praise ;  to  tell  of  your  labours  of  love  ; 
and  of  your  afflictions.  He  was  to  detail  the  trials  you  had 
to  encounter  from  that  "  obstinate  man,"  Dr.  H.  who 
would  not  submit  to  the  dictum  of  the  Junto.  In  fact, 
the  projection  and  execution  of  the  plan  of  sending  Mr. 
Rice  to  collect  money,  at  the  expense  of  the  societies,  and 
to  usher  in  the  "  Latter  Day  Luminary,"  shew  the  hand 
of  a  master. 


28 

Besides,  in  his  often  repeated  routes  througii  the  coimtry, 
he  reheved  you  from  the  labour  of  writing  letters  explana- 
tory of  differences  in  the  board,  by  verbally  removing  any 
prejudices  which  might  arise  against  your  proceedings.  As 
your  interest  and  his  had  become  one,  you  had  no  fear  on 
the  score  of  his  fidelity  ;  and  his  disposition  to  stigmatize 
Dr.  H.  was  unquestionable.  You  had  now  arrived  nearly 
at  the  consummation  of  all  your  missionary  wishes  and  la- 
bours. 

Mr.  Rice  was  bringing  in  large  sums  of  money,  without 
any  check  on  his  cupidity.  This  was  very  exliilirating  to 
your  spirits  ;  but  as  the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil, 
I  think  this  was  putting  his  virtue  to  a  severe  test :  so  much 
so,  that  I  should  not  like  to  be  answerable  for  the  issue. 

But  still  you  had  your  difficulties,  as  will  ere  long  appear 
in  the  light  of  PLAIN  TRUTH. 

LETTER  Vir. 
Dr.  Staughton, 

I  SHALL  here  bring  into  view  a  new  species  of  your 
manoeuvres.  When  the  Convention  met  last  year,  in  this 
city,  you  contrived  to  have  all  the  strange  ministers  so  quar- 
tered, that  they  should  not  mix  with  your  opponents,  any 
more  than  if  they  had  been  heathen,  thieves,  or  adulterers. 
In  providing  for  these  strangers,  you  crouded  your  friends 
to  repletion,  and  put  them  to  much  hardship  and  inconveni^ 
ence.  Even  persons  of  no  pretence  to  religion,  and  some 
of  notoriously  immortal  habits,  were  forced  to  aid  you, 
without  suspecting  your  motives,  in  keeping  the  Covention 
from  all  intercourse  with  upright  and  independent  characters. 
Your  objects  were  to  preserve,  without  disturbance,  the 
lethargic  security  into  which  they  had  fallen,  by  the  syren 
tongues  of  you  and  Rice,  and  to  poison  their  minds  with 
prejudice.  What  but  the  most  cruel  slanders,  artfully  in- 
sinuated, could  have  kept  that  body  from  enquiring  of  the 
minority  of  their  late  board,  into  the  grounds  of  those  col- 
lisions which  had  utterly  disgraced  it  ? 

Had  the  Convention  done  unto  others,  as  they  would 
have  been  done  by,  under  their  circumstances,  they  never 
c^'ould  have  condemned  the  minority  without  giving  them 


29 

ifn  opportunity  to  appear  in  their  own  defence.  Instead  of 
this,  they  proceeded  on  exparty  evidence,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee after  your  own  heart,  to  sit  in  judgment  on  the  ab- 
sent, with  nothing  but  deceptive  twilight,  or  rather 
Egyptian  darkness  for  their  guide  !  A  report,  prepared,  pro- 
bably, by  your  own  pen,  was  laid  before  the  convention,  a- 
dopted  by  a  majority,  and  promulgated  to  the  world  !  But 
truths  then  wrapt  up  must  be  "  proclaimed  on  the  house 
tops."  The  crimson  blush  of  shame  must  yet  cover  the 
cheeks  of  the  impostor,  and  the  incautious  victims  of  his 
imposition.  They,  and  you,  must  appear  before  the  tribunal 
©fan  impartial  public.  The  press,  that  natural  foe  to  ty- 
ranny, is  capable  of  bringing  you  all  to  account  for  your 
stewardship.  But,  after  thus  concealing  your  past  nefari- 
ous deeds,  you  took  due  care  to  provide  for  future  exi- 
gencies. 

Your  hopeful  students,  Welsh  and  Peck,  got  persons  to 
your  liking,  and  such  alone,  elected  as  members  of  your 
present  board.  They  have  since  been  rewarded  by  an  ap- 
pointment to  a  missionary  station. 

Your  interests  flourishing  in  the  hands  of  these  and  other 
well  appointed  agents,  at  a  distance,  you  are  brooding,  with 
much  complacency,  over  your  various  interests  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

Deacon  Shields,  a  wealthy  man  near  four-score  years  of 
age,  has  been  drawn  by  flattery  and  persuasion  to  doze  in 
the  chair  of  the  board ;  Burgess  Allison,  John  P.  Peck- 
worth,  Horatio  G.  Jones,  and  John  Bradley,  are  active,  or 
to  use  better  language, //awit^i?  members  of  it ;  and  you  are 
its  *'  vital  spark,"  and  Secretary,  with  an  annual  salary  of 

FOUR  HUNDRED   DOLLARS. 

Suffice  it  to  say  of  this  quorum,  that  they  are  all  men  who 
have  supported  White  to  the  last  extremity,  and  gone  with 
you  through  ail  your  difficulties. 

In  fact,  I  may  add,  that  this  shadow  of  a  board,  and  all 
the  funds  of  the  Baptists  for  foreign  and  domestic  missions, 
are  in  your  hands,  as  clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter.  How- 
ever little  vour  constituents  may  be  aware  of  it,  this  is 

PLAIN  TRUTH, 


30 

LETTER  VIII. 
Dr.  Staugiiton, 

I  SHALL  now  refresh  your  memory,  on  the  scenes 
exhibited  in  this  city,  at  the  Association  of  1816.  My  aim 
is  to  give  you  a  sketch  that  you  will  find  correct,  though 
not  so  large  as  life. 

Here  you  are  to  make  your  debut  as  a  secondary  actor, 
in  favour  of  William  White,  though  in  fact,  the  grand  ma- 
nager of  the  whole  stage.  It  is  true,  you  could  not  now, 
as  at  the  late  convention,  be  quarter- master  to  the  compa- 
ny ;  and  hence  your  defect  in  harmony. 

Agreeably  to  previous  arrangements,  you  named  Horatio 
G.  Jones,  moderator ;  and  he  nominated  Silas  Hough  clerk. 
The  former  was  objected  to  by  a  small  minority,  under  the 
impression  that  he  would  prove,  as  he  certainly  did,  a  par- 
tial officer. 

Preliminaries  adjusted,  and  letters  from  the  churches 
read,  a  debate  arose  from  an  appointment  White  had  receiv- 
ed, by  a  domestic  mission  society,  to  preach  a  sermon  for 
them  on  this  occasion.  And,  as  from  the  turn  this  affair 
took,  it  has  given  rise  to  much  misrepresentation,  I  shall 
set  it  in  a  clear  light,  from  the  testimony  of  my  senses,  and 
other  information,  entitled  to  the  highest  confidence. 

It  appears  that  the  First  Baptist  church  in  this  city  had 
lent  their  pulpit  to  this  society,  for  the  purpose  of  deliver- 
ing annual  discourses.  And  at  a  meeting  of  it,  some  months 
before  the  Association,  it  was  remarked,  that  Mr.  White 
was  to  preach  their  next  sermon.  Dr.  H.  objected  to  this, 
on  the  ground  of  his  character ;  you  warmly  insisted  on  it, 
and,  of  course,  it  was  expected  that  he  would  officiate.  In- 
deed, it  was  affirmed  that  you  calculated  on  a  sufficient 
number  of  men  to  put  him  into  the  pulpit  for  this  purpose. 
Under  these  circumstances,  several  friendly  characters  en- 
treated Dr.  H.  to  make  no  opposition  to  it.  He  thanked 
them  for  their  solicitude  and  advice,  but  affirmed  that  he 
would  abandon  his  pulpit  for  ever,  if  White,  in  a  state  of 
flagrant  disorder,  were  suffered  to  disgrace  it. 

On  becoming  acquainted  with  this  fact,  your  expectation 
of  turning  it  to  your  advantage  was  highly  sanguine.  You 
had  reason  to  believe  that  Dr.  H.  would  not  forfeit  his 


31 

word ;  and  by  arts  in  which  you  had  become  expert,  from 
long  practice,  you  were  sure  of  a  majority  in  the  Associa- 
tion. After  all,  as  White's  infamy  was  known  to  many, 
you  feared  that  a  direct  attempt  t©  usher  him  into  the  pul- 
pit, might  not  be  attended  with  success.  Presuming  on 
your  own  popularity,  you  presented  yourself  in  his  stead. 
Your  intention,  had  you  been  permitted  to  ascend  the  desk, 
was,  undoubtedly,  to  call  him  to  deliver  the  discourse. 

Already  on  the  skirts  of  the  congregation,  and  finding  he 
was  not  pitched  heels  over  head  out  of  the  house,  he  drew 
a  little  nearer  the  centre  of  your  operations.  Encouraged 
by  the  ear  of  a  female,  after  giggling  a  while  with  her,  he 
rose,  and  emboldened  by  the  bows  and  smiles  of  the  mo- 
derator, and  a  few  hints  from  your  pencil,  disgusted  all  the 
correct  part  of  the  audience  by  his  impudent  effusions. 

In  this  state  the  Association  found  things,  when  there  was 
a  call  for  the  "  sermon."  Though,  as  we  have  seen.  White 
was  appointed  to  deliver  it,  from  an  arrangement  betwixt 
yourselves,  accommodated  to  existing  circumstances,  you 
stepped  forward  as  his  representative.  Dr.  H.,  surround- 
ed as  he  was  by  your  partizans,  said  you  should  not  preach 
in  his  pulpit,  if  he  could  prevent  it,  until  certain  points  be- 
twixt yourselves,  received  satisfactory  explanations. 

A  scene  of  confusion  now  ensued.  "  Shall  one  man  be 
suffered  to  rule  the  whole  Associatio7i  .^"  exclaimed  half  a 
dozen  of  your  friends.  "  Order !  order !"  cried  the  mode- 
rator. The  hum  subsiding,  it  was  moved,  seconded,  and 
carried,  that  Dr.  Staughton  should  preach  the  sermon.  Af- 
ter all.  Dr.  H.  and  a  few  others,  opposed  this  measure.  In 
the  midst  of  the  agony,  John  P.  Peckworth  said,  "  I  will 
risk  the  opinion,  that  a  majority  of  the  delegates  from  this 
church  favour  our  views."  This  was  a  bold  stroke  ;  and 
probably  directed  by  an  abler  hand  than  Peckworth 's,  as  an 
entering  wedge  betwixt  the  pastor  and  the  church. 

Mr.  \,ty\  Garrett,  justly  provoked  at  this  insolence,  ri- 
sing as  the  organ  of  his  colleagues,  said,  "  Mr.  Moderator, 
you  have  now  gone  as  far  as  you  can,  or  dare  go  ;  you  will 
find  it  impossible  to  get  into  the  pulpit." 

At  the  sound  of  these  words  it  occurred  very  seasonably 
to  the  sagacious  moderator,  that  it  was  too  late  for  the  dis 


52 

course.     Thus,  with  the  adroitness  of  Sir  Reynard,  he  de- 
clined participating  the  fruits  of  your  labours. 

Many  towering  crests  suddenly  fell,  and  a  motion  for  ad- 
journmentwas  carried  without  opposition.  Thus  the  church 
and  her  pastor  stood  firmly  in  the  just  and  necessary  de- 
fence of  their  invaded  rights.  Shame  !  where  is  thy  blush  ! 
Numbers  have  been  made  to  believe,  that  you  and  the  Do- 
mestic Mission  Society  were  used  very  ill,  in  the  case  now 
fairly  stated  ;  but  it  is  time  the  truth  should  transpire. 

As  to  any  disappointment,  on  the  part  of  that  society,  no- 
thing of  the  kind  took  place.  The  liberal  members  of  it 
never  supposed,  that  a  church,  in  making  them  the  offer  of 
a  place  of  worship,  for  any  pious  use,  could  be  bound  to 
suffer  their  pulpit  to  be  degraded  by  disorderly  characters. 
As  to  the  Association,  it  had  no  concern  in  this  business. 
It  was  at  the  exclusive  disposition  of  the  church  and  Mis- 
sion Society.  The  undisguised  fact  is,  you  owed  White 
a  large  debt  of  gratitude  for  supporting  you  through  thick 
and  thin  ;  his  critical  situation  now  imperiously  called  on 
you  to  reciprocate  his  kindnesses  ;  you  ardently  wished  to 
humble  an  envied  church,  by  an  emphatic  assertion  of  your 
control  over  her  pulpit ;  the  time  had  fully  come  for  ma- 
king a  predeter7mned  ch^Y^e  on  Dr.  H.,  and  all  your  vete- 
rans, fully  apprized  of  your  thorough-going  why  measures, 
stood  prepared  for  the  execution  of  your  orders. 

You  relied  on  your  popularity,  as  sufficient  to  bear  you 
through  in  this  daring  enterprize ;  and  the  success  which 
had  attended  similar  efforts,  not  a  little  inflated  your  effron- 
tery. But  there  is  a  point  over  which  assurance  often  makes 
men  bound  to  their  own  destruction.  Alas  !  poor  man  ! 
you  in  an  evil  hour  have  thrown  the  gauntlet ;  you  have  past 
the  Rubicon  ;  and  are  on  the  brink  of  a  tremendous  preci- 
pice !  Alas  !  alas !  you  will,  probably,  soon  disappear,  like 
a  meteor  that  has  past  its  zenith,  and  is  rapidly  descending 
to  merge  in  the  damps  that  engendered  it.  How  will  you 
then  bear  "  the  keen  vibrations"  of 

PLAIN  TRUTH? 


MISREPRESENTATIONS  EXPOSED. 


STATEMENT 


BY 


THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


PHILADELPHIA, 


EXHIBITING  THE  GROUNDS  ON  WHICH  SHE  WITHDREW  FROM 


PHILADELPHIA  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PUBLISHED    FOR    THE    FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH 
BY    M.    CAREY    &    SON. 

1818. 


We  recommend  the  following  statements,  and  re- 
marks, to  the  adoption  of  the  church,  as  worthy  to  see 
tlie  light. 

December  3d,  1818. 

Henry  Holcombe,  Thomas  Browit, 

Wm.  Rogers,  John  Davis, 

Geo.  Ingels,  Wm.  Duncan, 

John  M'Leod,  Wm.  S.  Hansell, 

H.  GouBLEY,  Joseph  Reynolds, 

Joseph  Keen,  Elijah  Griffiths, 

Levi  Garrett,  Silas  W.  Sexton. 
Joseph  S.  Walter, 


Dec.  10,  1818.  At  a  special^  and  very  numerous, 
meeting  of  the  members  of  this  Church,  held  in  their 
Meeting  House — Brother  Holcombe,  Moderator: 

The  Report  of  the  committee,  on  the  subject,  relative 
to  their  withdrawing  from  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  As- 
sociation, was  read,  unanimously  adopted,  and  directed 
to  be  published. 

Whereupon,  on  motion,  Resolved,  that  brethren  Hoi- 
combe,  Rogers,  Ingels,  M'Leod,  and  Walter,  be  a  com- 
mittee to  carry  the  above-mentioned  object  into  effect. 

The  committee  are  hereby  authorized  to  have  fifteen 
hundred  copies  printed,  as  soon  as  practicable. 

HENRY  HOLCOMBE,  Moderator. 

Attest, 
John  M'Leod,  Clerk. 
Joseph  S.  Walter,  Assistant  Clerk. 


DEDICATION. 


TO  SUCH  BAPTIST  CHURCHES 

AS 

"  STAXD  FAST  IK  THE  IIBEKTT  WHEREWITH  CHRIST  HATH  MADE  US  FREE,' 

AND 

THE  UNPREJUDICED  FRIENDS  OF  TRUTH  AND  ORDER 
OF 

ALL  DENOMINATIONS, 

THIS    UNVARNISHED    NARRATIVE    IS   MOST   RESPECTFULLY    INSCRIBED 
BY    THE 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


B 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


From  the  minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation, as  they  relate  to  the  acts  of  their  two  last  ses- 
sions, their  numerous  correspondents,  and  many  others, 
have  been  unavoidably  led  to  believe,  that  this  body  has 
solemnly  excluded  from  her  communion  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  of  Philadelphia,  for  pursuing  "  an  unhappy 
course,"  constituted  by  a  series  of  "  unwarrantable 
steps,"  and  making,  without  the  least  provocation,  by 
that  council,  a  variety  of  deceptive,  mischievous,  and 
"  very  palpable  misrepresentations." 

And  although  she  might  satisfy  herself^  with  the  con- 
sciousness she  possesses,  that  all  those  things  are  untrue, 
yet,  from  a  deep  sense  of  her  duty  towards  the  misled 
friends  of  religion,  she  furnishes  them,  in  this  small  trea- 
tise, with  ample  means  of  correct  information,  touching 
the  points  at  issue. 

She  here  accurately  republishes  her  protest  against  the 
proceedings,  in  question,  of  that  "  Advisory  Council^''  in 
connexion  with  several  official  documents,  interspersed        , 
with  suitable  illustrations. 

The  public  may  rest  assured,  that  had  not  the  disco- 
lou rings,  and  perversions,  of  the  facts  embraced  in  these 
unpleasant  discussions,  been  prodigious  and  unsiifferahle, 
they  never  would  have  attracted  the  notice^  much  less 
received  the  formal  correction^  of  the  first  Baptist  church 
of  Philadelphia. 


PREFACE. 

IN  order  to  a  correct  judgment  of  this  performance, 
it  is  necessary  to  understand,  and  keep  in  view,  the  well- 
known  sentiments  of  the  baptists,  in  reference  to  Church 
Government. 

While  they  readily,  and  with  pleasure,  acknowledge, 
that  true  religion,  in  an  eminent  degree,  is  common  to 
all  orders  of  christians ;  as  Baptists^  their  adherence  to 
the  independence  of  every  gospel  church  is  of  the  most 
decisive  character. 

No  superiority  exists,  or,  on  their  principles,  can  exist, 
amongst  their  ministers,  or  in  any  of  their  churches,  but 
as  the  result  of  superior  rectitude  and  usefulness. 
Giving  the  most  distant  intimation  of  entertaining  a 
different  view  of  this  subject,  would  be  fatal  to  the 
influence  and  popularity  of  any  minister  in  their  con- 
nexion. 

So  jealous  are  their  churches,  respectively,  of  their 
independence,  that  they  have  never  delegated  a  power 
which,  in  the  slightest  degree,   could  affect  their  unre- 


XIV 

stricted  liberty,  or  justify  any  association  of  their 
churches  in  the  assumption  of  a  higher  style  than  that 
of  an  "Advisory  Council." 

Any  attempt  in  one  of  these  bodies,  to  act  otherwise 
than  conformably  to  this  humble  character,  is  considered, 
by  all  consistent  Baptists,  as  an  assumption  which  calls, 
imperiously,  for  prompt  and  efficient  resistance.  They 
all  admit,  that,  whatever  may  be  the  defects  of  this  strictly 
independent  form  of  government,  they  are  bound  by 
honour  and  conscience  to  submit,  while  Baptists,  to  the 
legitimate  operation  of  all  its  principles.  These  posi- 
tions they  consider  as  amongst  their  Axioms. 


TO  THE  READER. 


THE  late  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  in  his  centurial  sermon,  delivered 
in  Philadelphia,  October  6,  1802,  before  the  Philadelphia  Baptist 
Association,  makes  the  following  remarks  :— 

"  This  Association  originated  in  what  they  called  general,  and 
sometimes  yearly  meetings.  At  these  meetings,  their  labour  was 
chiefly  confined  to  the  ministry  of  the  word,  and  the  administra- 
tion of  gospel  ordinances." 

It  is  a  fact,  not  altogether  unworthy  of  notice,  that  in  all  this 
valuable  production,  delivered  on  a  memorable  occasibn,  there  is 
nothing  found  on  the  subject  of  any  I'eal,  or  supposed,  divine  au- 
thority for  an  Association  of  churches.  "  But,"  continues  our  vene- 
rable author,  "  in  the  year  1707,  they,"  who  before  had  their  yeai'- 
ly  meetings,  "  seem  to  have  taken  more  properly  the  form  of  an 
Association  ;  for  then  they  had  delegates  from  several  churches, 
and  attended  to  their  general  concerns." 

This  is  a  concise,  but  just,  view  of  the  nature  and  origin  of  the 
body  whose  late  conduct  the  subsequent  sheets  delineate.  After 
respectfully  mentioning  Jenkin  Jones,  Owen  Thomas,  David 
Davis,  Enoch  Morgan,  and  Abel  Morgan,  Dr.  Jones  adds,  "  These 
were  men  of  shining  talents,  with  whom  we  have  had  few,  if  any, 
since,  that  would  bear  a  comparison." 

Whether  this  body  has  continued  to  depreciate,  or  is  iioio  in  a 
decline^  it  is  the  reader's  province  to  judge. 

It  is  admitted,  on  all  hands,  that  while  an  Association  is  confined 
to  spiritual  concerns,  it  may  be  useful,  and  eminently  so ;  but 
should  it  forget  that  the  independence  of  the  churches,  which 
create  it,  must  be  inviolably  maintained,  and  arrogate  to  itself  the 
powers  of  a  high  ecclesiastical  court,  it  becomes,  in  the  hands  of 
ambition,  a  formidable  engine  of  tyranny. 

The  reader,  interested  in  the/acZ,  should  be  informed,  that  very 
Serious  misunderstandings  have,  by  some  means,  arisen  amongst 


XVI 

the  Baptists  of  Philadelphia  ;  and,  as  the  natural  consequence,  af- 
fected their  Order,  especially^  to  a  very  considerable  extent. 

The  origin,  progress,  and  aggravations,  of  these  regretted  dif- 
ferences, have  been  variously,  and,  in  some  instances,  erroneously 
represented,  verbally  and  from  the  press. 

The  minutes  and  reports  of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions— a  letter  by  one  of  its  Vice-Presidents — the  protest  repub- 
lished in  the  following  pages — anonymous  letters,  signed  "  Plain 
Truths"  FALSELY  ascribed  to  the  Pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Philadelphia,  as  their  Author — and  the  minutes  of  the 
two  last  sessions  of  the  Association  in  view — are  the  publications 
referred  to — but  verbal  effusions  on  those  topics  are  endless. 

The  only  check  they  have  received  in  their  rapid  circulation, 
has  been  from  requesting  their  propagators  to  be  specific,  and  an- 
nex their  signatures  to  their  assertions. 

It  has  been,  and  the  hope  is  indulged  that  it  ever  will  be,  the 
sincere  endeavour  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia,  to 
speedily  terminate  these  distressing  contentions,  which,  most  in- 
juriously, affect  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  churches. 

With  a  view  to  these  important  objects,  in  subordination  to  the 
divine  glory,  such  a  manifestation  of  the  truth,  touching  those 
points,  is  here  made,  as,  it  is  believed,  must  approve  itself  to  eve- 
ry impartial  reader's  conscience. 


STATEiMENT,  &c. 


A  REMARK  of  vital  importance  to  the  elucidation 
of  our  subject  is,  that  the  grand  point  which  divided 
us  and  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  respected 
the  character  of  William  White,  late  pastor  of  the  Se-  ^  W 
cond  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia.  Our  views  of 
this  man,  in  the  light  of  evidence,  clear,  to  us,  as  sun- 
beams, and  those  of  the  Association,  appeared  to  be  dia- 
metrically opposite.  We  considered  and  treated  him  as 
an  offender,  in  no  ordinary  degree,  against  the  laws  and 
customs  of  civil  and  religious  society  ;  and  they,  in  the 
rejection  of  the  testimon}'-  which  v/e  regarded  as  conclu- 
sive, most  zealously  supported  him,  as  an  innocent,  wor- 
thy, and  honourably  distinguished  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, suffering,  in  a  degree  that  excited  their  tenderest 
sympathies,  from  our  envy,  malevolence,  and  persecu- 
tions. 

These  discordant  views,  and  the  correspondent  efforts 
which  they  publicly  produced  in  the  Association  against 
whose  proceedings  we  conscientiously  protested,  inter- 
ested our  mutual  feelings,  and  those  of  hundreds  of  aston- 
ished spectators,  to  an  indescribable  degree  :  so  that  the 
notoriety  of  this  important  fact,  is  equal  to  its  vitality 
in  the  present  discussion. 

C 


18 

After  all,  in  the  minutes  of  their  next  session,  so  far 
were  they  brought  to  coincide  with  us  in  opinion,  with 
respect  to  this  recently  contested  character,  that  they  were 
constrained,  however  reluctantly^  to  present  us  with  the 
following  articles  : — "  Brethren  Staughton,  H.  G.  Jones, 
and  Thomas  Shields,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
draw  up  a  suitable  minute,  respecting  the  exclusion,  by 
the  Second  Philadelphia  Church,  of  their  late  pastor, 
Wm.  White."  The  result  of  this  unanticipated  ap- 
pointment follows  : — "  The  committee  appointed  in  the 
CL  se  of  Wm.  White,  late  pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  who  is  excluded  from  said 
church  for  contempt  of  the  church  and  for  refusing  to 
meet  certain  charges  brought  against  him,  Reported, 

"  That  they  have  reason  to  believe  that  said  Wm. 
White  is  continuing  a  career  of  unparalleled  immorality, 
which  renders  it  the  duty  of  the  Association  to  caution 
the  churches  and  the  public  against  encouraging  him. 
It  is  alleged  on  good  authority,  that  the  said  Wm. 
White  is  travelling  with  a  woman  whom  he  calls  his 
wife,  while  his  wife  and  family  are  now  in  Philadel- 
phia." On  viewing  this  rapidly-returning  tide  of  their 
their  esteem  and  affections,  we  were  like  them  that 
dream  ;  and  could  scarcely  realize,  that  the  late  deter- 
mined supporters  of  Wm.  White,  could  now  treat  him 
with  positive  injustice^  and  unfounded  abuse  ! 

What  reason  that  committee,  and  the  Association 
which  adopted  their  report,  had  to  believe  that  his  career 
of  immorality  was  "  unparalleled^''^  we  have  yet  to  learn  : 
they  have  certainly  published  nothing,  whatever  know- 
ledge they  might  have  had  of  his  secret  history^  that  will 
justify  this  unparalleled  insinuation  !  It  certainly  would 
have  been  sufficient,  for  all  useful  purposes,  to  brand 


19 

him  with  flagrant  transgressions,  on  authority  which  they 
have  not  thought  it  proper  to  adduce,  without  loading  him 
with  this  obviously  disproportionate  opprobrium  ! 

But  how  it  is,  that  we,  as  events  have  abundantly 
proved,  knew  much,  and  they,  as  it  would  seem,  little  or 
nothing,  of  the  odious  profligacy  of  this  unfortunate  man, 
at  the  session  of  their  body  which  occasioned  the  usher- ' 
ing  of  our  solemn  protest  into  light,  is  a  difl[iculty,  of 
which  we  shall  not  attempt  the  solution. 

On  this  knotty  pointy  we  must  leave  others  to  their 
own  unbiassed  reflections. 

The  protest  above  alluded  to  was  introduced  by  the 
following  remarks : 

The  right  of  a  minority,  to  protest"  against  whatever  it 
may  conceive  to  be  improper,  in  the  conduct  of  the  ma- 
jority, has  rarely  been  questioned. 

Whenever  minorities  are  obliged  to  submit,  in  si- 
lence, to  majorities,  however  large,  there  is  an  end  to 
liberty. 

While  freedom  exists,  constitutions,  defined  agreeably 
to  the  established  rules  of  language,  govern  all  socie- 
ties ;  and  their  feeblest  members  have  nothing  to  fear 
from  the  most  arbitrary  and  despotic  majorities. 

On  the  basis  of  these  liberal  principles,  we  claimed,  but 
were  denied  the  right  to  read  our  protest  against  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  at  their 
late  session,  in  our  place  of  worship. 

It  was  not  pretended  that  this  denial  was  predicated  on 
the  terms  in  which  our  protest  was  couched,  nor  on  the 
mode  of  its  introduction. 

The  worthy  churches  composing  a  great  majority  of 
this  Association,  need  not  be  informed  that  it  has  no 
control  over  their  liberties. 


20 

It  is  obvious  that  aii  Association  of  churches  is  never 
the  eflect  of  religious  obligation ;  but,  in  its  best  state,  a 
matter  of  mere  choice,  from  the  influence  of  prudential 
motives. 

Under  these  considerations,  we  are  constrained,  by  a 
sense  of  duty,  to  submit  the  instrument  which  an  advi- 
sory council  would  not  deign  to  hear,  to  the  considera- 
tion of  all  impartial,  and  independent  churches. 

And  this  measure  seems  to  us  the  more  necessary 
and  important,  as  the  present  epoch  is  acknowledged  to 
be  highly  interesting  to  us,  as  American  Baptists.  The 
singular  advantages  enjoyed  in  our  country,  have  com- 
bined with  other,  and  still  more  efiicacious  means,  great- 
ly to  augment  our  numbers. 

Indeed  religion,  itself,  from  the  extent  and  lustre  of 
its  triumphs,  has  become  popular ;  and  adventurers  are 
making  a  cloak  of  our  strict  profession,  to  conceal  their 
deeds,  and  give  currency  to  the  "  good  words  and  fair 
speeches  with  which  they  deceive  the  hearts  of  the  sim- 
ple." Under  their  ministry,  it  cannot  be  concealed,  that 
conformity  to  the  world  is  almost  complete  ;  the  doc- 
trines of  sovereign  grace,  which  distinguish  our  excel- 
lent Confession  of  Faith  are  seldom,  or  never,  heard  ; 
the  door  of  admission  to  our  tables  is  widened  beyond 
all  scriptural  bounds ;  discipline,  if  it  exist,  is  extremely 
lax  ;  and  the  standard  of  morals  is  reduced  to  invisibility  ! 

Men  who  turn  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
into  lasciviousness,  and  are  otherwise  in  notorious  disor- 
der, obtain  seats,  as  delegates*,  in  our  Associations,  and, 

*  Several  of  those  delegates  have  since  been  excommunicated, 
by  their  respective  churches,  which  have  been  put,  it  would 
seem,  on  the  alert  by  our  protest.  From  the  church,  of  whicli 
\Vm.  While  was  then  pastor,  thirty-three  members  have  since 
been  excon:imunicated. 


21 

under  the  influence  of  corrupt  and  deluded  majorities, 
are  elevated  lo  our  pulpits  ! 

Iniquity  is  covered  by  those  w^ho  declare  that  a  con- 
fession of  it,  or  even  ocular  demonstration,  would  not 
convince  them  of  its  existence  !  The  testimonies  of  all 
out  of  our  religious  connexions,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
senses,  have,  in  some  instances,  been  declared  insuffi- 
cient grounds  of  an  ecclesiastical  censure  !  And  those  who 
express  a  contrary  opinion,  and  manifest  a  disposition  to 
believe,  on  ordinary  grounds,  are  threatened  with  legal 
prosecutions. 

The  state  of  things  described  in  those  remarks  admits 
of  much  amplification  ;  and  that  it  actually  existed,  is 
proveable  by  evidence  at  once  copious  and  decisive.  The 
phrenzy  of  party  spirit  led  individuals  to  doubt,  as  they 
pretended,  and  absolutely  to  reject  every  species  and  de- 
gree of  evidence  urged  against  Wm.  White.  And  the 
dangerous  principles,  that  absconded  persons  should  be 
admitted  into  churches,  to  the  Lord's  Table,  and  to 
the  sacred  ministry,  merely  on  what  some  call  their  "ex- 
periences of  grace,"  were  advocated  in  the  Association, 
and  had  been  acted  on  by  one  of  their  churches,  with  the 
approbation  of  an  associated  majority  of  their  delegates. 

It  was  with  reference  to  these  melancholy  facts,  that 
elder  Daniel  Dodge*,  a  messenger  from  the  Delaware 
Association,  wrote  to  Dr.  Rogers,  on  what  he  had  just 
before  beheld,  as  follows  : — 

"  The  scenes  which  my  eyes  and  ears  witnessed  when 
in  your  city  are  ever  before  me  :  Oh  my  brother,  what 
shall  we  do  !  must  we  abandon  truth  and  order,  give  up 
our  Discipline,  and  the  rules  of  the  Gospel  ?  must  we 

*  Mr.  Dodge  is  now  tiie  highly-esteemed  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Piscataqua,  N.  J. 


now  be  taught,  that  a  gospel  church  may  be  composed 
of  persons  who  are  members  of  other  churches,  by  a  re- 
lation of  their  experiences  ?  must  we  be  taught,  that  a 
collection  of  excommunicated  persons,  are  a  regular 
Gospel  Church  ?  If  this  be  gospel  order,  we  have  never 
before  had  it  in  our  churches.  But  why  all  this  ?  '  there 
is  a  wheel  within  a  wheel.  ^  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to 
discover  the  Achan  ;  for  '  there  is  death  in  the  camp.' 

"  There  is  but  one  thing  I  dread  more  in  churches  than 
division,  and  that  is  a  surrender  of  truth.  A  union  for- 
med on  the  principles  advocated  in  your  Association,  is 
like  a  rope  of  sand.  As  soon  may  you  put  out  the  fire  of 
Vesuvius  with  oil,  as  form  a  lasting  union  on  those  prin- 
ciples. They  contain  the  very  essence  of  discord  ;  and 
there  never  was,  nor  never  will  be,  any  thing  else  where 
they  prevail.  I  have  no  doubt  but  you  will  maintain  the 
truth,  with  the  meekness,  patience,  and  firmness,  which 
become  a  christian  minister,  in  fighting  the  battles  of  the 
Lord.  Your  case  has  not,  yet,  become  so  perilous  as 
was  Paul's.  Tender  my  most  affectionate  regards  to  dear 
Dr.  Holcombe.  My  soul  compassionates  his  case  ;  for 
I  believe  he  suffers  for  tlie  truth's  sake ;  but  let  him 
glor}'^  in  it. 

"  I  feel  willing  to  live,  and  to  die,  in  the  defence  of  those 
truths  he  preached,  and  of  the  gospel  order  he  defended, 
before  the  Association.  When  those  all-important  truths 
lose  their  influence  on  my  soul,  *  O  may  I  cease  to  be  !' 
O  my  brother  !  Although  there  are  some  bright  spots  in 
our  spiritual  horizon,  yet,  on  the  whole,  this  is  a  dark 
and  gloomy  day  !  O  how  my  heart  bled,  when  subjects 
of  the  first  importance  were  stated  in  your  Association, 
to  see  the  messengers  of  the  churches  giggling !  Are 
these  the  lights  of  the  world,  and  the  glory  of  Christ." 

Those  are  the  terms,  equally  honourable  to  the  head 


and  heart  of  a  man,  and  a  minister,  whose  praise  is  in  all 
the  churches,  and  in  society  at  large.  It  is  remarkable 
too,  that  he  is  one  of  at  least  six  of  the  oldest  ministers, 
present  at  the  Association,  who  left  it  with  a  disgust 
which  forbids  their  attendance  at  any  of  its  future  ses- 
sions, except  they  should  be  held  under  a  radical  change 
of  circumstances. 

Passing  a  letter  from  the  state  of  Ohio,  on  disorders 
similar  to  those  before  us,  as  not  essential  to  the  execu- 
tion of  our  present  design,  we  would  here  introduce  from 
another  the  paragraph,  which,  in  our  protest  immediately 
followed  it : — 

This  writer's  words  are,  "  I  have  been  informed,  by 
those  who  are  ready  to  inform  a  court  of  Judicature,  that 
some  of  those  coloured  people  have  threatened  to  stab,  or 
shoot,  any  man  who  will  dare  to  call  them  slaves  ! 

"  The  heterogeneous  body,  however,  composed  as  it 
was,  of  real  and  pretended  members,  was  in  tolerable  har- 
mony until  a  persecution  commenced  against  deacon 
Simmons*.  He  had  been,  I  cannot  say  so  wi  eked,  nor 
even  so  imprudent,  but  so  unlucky,  as  to  offend  a  gen- 
tleman who  pronounced  him  a  "great  villain;"  and 
charged  him  with  so  many  atrocities,  that  I  verily  thought 
he  deserved  something  more  than  expulsion  from  a  reli- 
gious society. 

"But  judge  of  my  surprise,  when  I  found  he  was  ex- 
pelled from  the  church,  without  a  single  specification  of 
crime  !  This  singular  circumstance,  appearing  on  the 
church  book,  led  to  a  re- investigation  of  his  case.  A 
council  was  called,  consisting  of  the  gentleman  who  de- 
nounced him,  another  who  was  one  of  the  witnesses 

*  A  coloured  man  of  the  First  African  Baptirt  Church  of  Phi- 
ladelphia, in  Thirteenth,  between  Race  and  Vine  Streets. 


24 

against  him,  and  a  few  others  including  the  writer  and  Dr. 
Rogers  !  But  incredible  as  it  may  appear,  it  is  no  less 
true,  that  all  attempts  to  prove  something  against  him 
which  should  give,  at  least,  a  colouring  of  justice  to  his 
expulsion,  proved  abortive ! " 

In  correspondence  with  the  threatenings  of  those  peo- 
ple, a  few  nights  before  the  late  meeting  of  the  Associa- 
tion, after  two  unsuccessful  attempts  on  the  life  of  Sim- 
mons, he  was  shot  through  one  of  his  thighs,  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  as  he  was  entering  his  gate ! 
And  the  very  men  he  suspected,  from  their  own  mena- 
ces, of  a  concern  in  this  murderous  act,  were  messen- 
R-ers  to  the  late  Association  ! 

o 

But  so  far  were  the  majority  from  regarding  these 
circumstances,  in  a  proper  light,  that  one  of  their  leaders* 
had  the  assurance  to  ascribe  the  wound  which  this  per- 
secuted man  received,  to  the  management  of  his  friends  ! 

On  this  occasion,  horror  seized,  and  strongly  agitated, 
hundreds  of  virtuous  bosoms  !  an  involuntary  burst  of 
indignation  shook  the  housef. 

But  two  other  facts  must  be  stated  to  enable  the  rea- 
der to  account  for  the  unparalleled  disorder  which  de- 
graded this  Association  :  some  days  before  they  convened 
we  were  credibly  informed,  that  they  were  determined 
to  put  one  of  two  men  J,  the  least  acceptable  to  us  of 
any  at  their  disposal,  into  our  pulpit,  however  we  might 
oppose  this  uncourtly  measure  !  Accordingly  they  at- 
tempted to  carry  their  design  into  effect ;  but,  witli  all 

*  Wni.  White. 

t  This  hyperbole  has  been  pointed  to  as  an  error,  by  a  member 
of  the  Association,  who,  in  the  progress  of  his  speech  on  it — wax- 
ing warm— -represented  us  as  having  written  and  printed  so  largely, 
that  steam-boats  had  been  made  to  gboam  with  our  publications. 

t  Wni.  White,  or  Dr.  Staughton. 


25 

their  boasted  numbers,  in  this  instance,  they  were  foiled, 
and  retired  from  a  scene  of  confusion  which  it  would  be 
neither  easy  nor  pleasant  to  describe. 

They  say,  in  their  minutes,  that  our  pulpit  was  refused, 
without  condescending  to-  account  for  it.  Yes,  we  would 
not  suffer  it  to  be  entered  by  a  disorderly  character. 
And,  we  would  ask,  what  church  could  consider  any 
man  in  order  who  would  devise,  and  attempt  to  execute, 
a  plan  to  force  himself,  or  his  brother,  on  their  premises  ? 

It  is  one  thing  to  ask  alms,  and  another  to  demand  a 
purse.  Had  double,  or  treble,  the  amount  of  what  Great 
Britain  demanded  of  us,  as  tax,  been  requested  as  a 
favour,  we  should  have  readily  granted  it ;  but  rather 
than  pay  a  cent,  as  tribute,  we  chose  to  expend  a  mil- 
lion in  defence. 

On  the  whole  we  have  just  to  observe,  that  the  same 
spirit  which  has  disorganized  our  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, reared  its  brazen  front  in  the  Association.  Those 
who  may  covet  an  acquaintance  with  it,  should  read 
a  letter  lately  published  on  "  the  silence  of  the  second  an- 
nual report  of  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  re- 
lative to  their  exchange  of  Vice  Presidents*." 

Witnesses  of  the  first  respectability,  testify  that  this 
production  by  no  means  exaggerates  the  obliquities,  not 
to  say  the  enormities,  it  exposes.  We  need  add  no 
more,  than  that  the  leading  characters  in  the  Tragedy 
which  that  letter  correctly  exhibits,  were  the  Actors  in 
our  truly  farcical  Association. 

For  the  information  of  strangers  to  our  opponents, 

and  their  communications,  it  may  not  be  improper  to 

observe,  that  they  not  only  manifested  a  disposition,  as 

we  conceived,  to  reject  all  evidence,  but  to  teaze  us  with 

*  By  Dr.  Holcombe. 

D 


26 


legal  prosecutions^  should  they  be  able  to  collect  any 
thing  actionable  from  our  productions.  From  these 
very  unusual  circumstances,  we  couched  our  protest,  as 
you  will  presently  perceive,  in  correspondent  terms. 


PROTEST. 

THE  undersigned  representative  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  solicits  permission  to  state,  that 
we  solemnly  Protest  against  all  the  proceedings  of  this 
Association,  in  so  far  as  contrary  to  sound  doctrine,  and 
the  discipline  of  our  churches. 

We  perform  this  duty  with  great  reluctance  ;  but,  if 
we  mistake  not,  in  the  fear,  and  with  a  single  eye  to  the 
glory  of  God. 

Living  in  an  age  of  scepticism,  we  shall  guard,  as 
much  as  possible,  against  committing  ourselves  by  any 
unsu})portcd  assertion. 

Though  some  men  may  prove,  in  their  own  opinion, 
any  thing ;  mc  shall  now  attempt  to  prove  nothing. 
How  can  we  even  identify,  beyond  controversy,  any 
man  ?  May  not  one  man  be  exactly  like  another  ?  Or, 
how  can  we  dii:tinguish,  to  a  certainty,  betwixt  a  man 
and  his  apparition  ?  We  may  suppose  many  things  ;  but 
is  it  not  possible  that  the  combined  testimonies  of  all 
our  senses  may  deceive  us  ?  Are  there  not  many,  of  ex- 


27 

cellent  natural  and  acquired  parts,  who  consider  all  evi- 
dence whatever,  in  its  very  nature,  equivocal  and  de- 
ceptive ?  Is  it  not,  at  least,  doubtful,  whether  any  con- 
ceivable assemblage  of  circumstances  can  furnish  proof 
sufficient  to  criminate  a  suspected  character?  If  circum- 
stances, combined  to  any  extent,  and  our  senses,  sepa- 
rately and  connectively,  may  deceive  us,  how  can  we 
safely  depend  on  affidavits  ? 

The  witnesses  may  be  frightened,  or  bribed,  have 
flaws  in  their  reputation,  or,  from  some  other  cause,  la- 
bour under  fallacious  impressions.  In  either  of  these 
cases,  what  dependence  can  be  placed  on  their  oaths  or 
affirmations*  ? 

Aware  of  the  difficulty,  not  to  say  the  impracticability, 
of  proving  facts,  we  shall  attempt  nothing  of  this  nature. 
Whatever  our  impressions  may  have  been,  as  our  per- 
ceptive powers  are  limited,  and  our  judgments  fallible, 
we  readily  concede^  that  no  associational  decisions  may 
have  been  determined  on,  previously  to  this  session ; 
that  the  choice  of  a  moderator,  may  have  been  unin- 
fluenced by  party  considerations  ;  that,  possibly,  the  let- 
ters and  messengers  from  corresponding  Associations 
were  treated  with  due  respect  and  delicacy ;  that,  per- 
adventure,  no  plan  of  supplying  our  pulpit,  on  the  even- 
ing we  met,  had  been  preconcerted ;  that  in  the  attempt 
which  seemed  to  be  made  to  force  a  minister  on  us, 
there  may  have  been  no  design  to  divide  us ;  and,  that 
in  the  whole  course  of  our  debates,  nothing  may  have 
appeared  like  unfairness  in  argument,  rancour,  personal 

*  All  these  queries,  singular  as  they  may  appear,  were  cor- 
rectly predicated  on  the  quibbles  and  evasions  of  Wm.  White's 
advocates,  in  their  unavailing,  though  strenuous  endeavours  to 
maintain  his  standing  in  religious  society. 


38 

abuse,  or  ill-natured  reflections.  And,  we  are  compelled, 
further,  to  admit,  that  the  organs  of  hearing  may  have 
deceived  those  who  signify,  that  several  of  our  orators 
dealt  largely  in  slanderous  insinuations,  indelicate  allu- 
sions, disgusting  similes,  reflections  on  distinguished 
ofiicers  of  the  state ;  and  even  sneerings  at  the  doctrine 
of  a  particular  Providence. 

We  can  say  no  more,  but  we  will  not  say  less,  than, 
that  against  all  which  has  appeared  to  us,  in  those  mat- 
ters, contrary  to  meekness  and  humility,  affability  and 
courteousness,  and  the  respect  and  attention  due  to 
character  and  office,  we  Protest. 

And,  alas  !  other,  and  still  more  exceptionable  things, 
if  possible,  operate  on  our  minds,  to  the  disadvantage  of 
those  whose  suffrages,  during  the  present  session,  have 
so  far  governed  our  decisions. 

They  continue,  we  believe,  a  number  of  men  and 
women  in  their  fellowship,  and  on  our  minutes,  who  are 
living  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States*  ! 

Several  of  them,  we  are  informed,  were  seized,  a  few 
evenings  ago,  by  a  civil  officer,  at  one  of  the  doors  of 
this  house,  under  serious  charges ;  and,  though  dele- 
gates among  us,  were  taken  under  guard,  and  hauled 
before  a  magistrate. 

*  This  society  is  enrolled  on  the  minutes  of  the  late  Associa- 
tion, and  represented  by  seven  delegates,  with  a  licensed  fireacher 
as  their  chairman. 

We  are  sorry  to  learn  that  some  of  these  select  men  are  un- 
known, as  baptists^  otherwise  than  by  their  own  refiort. 

Some  of  them,  it  seems,  were  lately  excommunicated,  for  odious 
vices ;  but  have  since  been  restored  to  the  fellowship  and  con- 
fidence of  their  associates — and  the  chairman  himself  is,  unfor- 
tunately, of  this  number. 


29 

In  fine,  if  there  are  not  persons  in  this  bod}'-,  under 
excommunication,  and  in  very  dishononorable  connex- 
ions, we  despair  of  ever  substantiating  any  fact  in  the 
whole  current  of  events  ! 

That  these  scandals  exist  among  us,  we  do  not  affirm ; 
but,  will  their  existence  be  openly  denied*,  by  any  indi- 
vidual who  has  the  least  reputation  at  st^ke  ! 

AH  we  can  say,  therefore,  is,  that  we  solemnly  Protest 
against  every  measure,  and  act,  which  during  this  ses- 
sion, or  at  any  other  time,  may  have  tended  to  patronize, 
countenance,  or  conceal,  disorderly  and  vicious  charac- 
tersf. 

In  assigning  our  reasons  for  this  Protest,  suifer  us  to 
observe,  that  without  a  strict  and  conscientious  regard  to 
the  divine  pattern,  with  respect  both  to  the  admission 
and  exclusion  of  members,  our  churches  can  never  en- 
joy peace  and  prosperity. 

Light  and  darkness,  righteousness  and  unrighteous- 
ness, Christ  and  Belial,  can  have  no  fellowship. 

If  churches  can  be  composed  always,  as  they  ought 
to  be,  of  enlightened  men  and  women,  no  danger  can 
arise,  but,  on  the  contrary,  much  advantage,  from  the 
operation  of  democratic  principles  ;  but  if  once  we  suf- 
fer graceless  and  unprincipled  characters,  by  any  means, 
to  creep  into  our  sacred  inclosures,  until  they  form  ma- 
jorities, Ichabod,  or,  the  glory  is  departed,  may  be  writ- 
ten on  the  gates  of  all  our  Sanctuaries. 

Associations  of  real  and  consistent  Christians,  each 

*  No  :  they  have  not  been — they  cannot  be  denied, 
t  The  things  above   merely  alluded  to,  2ive  facts.     Accordingly 
the  committee  of  the  Association,  on  this  protest,  make  no  com- 
plaints of  ambiguity  in  its  language  ;  npr  of  a  mis-statement  of  the 
measures  it  censures. 


30 

striving  to  take  the  lowest  seat,  are  among  the  most  ex- 
cellent means  of  grace. 

In  such  bodies  the  mind  of  Christ  is  humbly  sought, 
and,  when  found,  directs  all  their  deliberations  into  cor- 
rect channels,  and  to  happy  results.  And,  while  matters 
are  thus  conducted,  churches  are  benefited  by  combi- 
nation ;  but  should  ever  their  delegates,  regardless  of 
their  Lord's  authority  and  glory,  depart  from,  the  golden 
rules,  and  harmonizing  spirit  of  his  v/ord,  into  envyings, 
ambitious  competitions,  and  vain  janglings,  they  should 
immediately  withdraw,  and  separately  maintain,  at  once, 
their  good  order,  and  their  independence. 

An  apostle  commands  us  in  the  name,  and  by  the  au- 
thority of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  withdraw  from  all 
disorderly  persons. 

The  necessity  of  thus  dissolving  existing  connexions, 
we  earnestly  deprecate  ;  and  are  still  determined  to  seek 
and  cherish  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

There  is  nothing  more  precious  in  our  eyes  tlian  the 
harmony  of  the  churches,  except  purity,  and  the  pleasure 
of  a  good  conscience. 

Indeed,  we  are  unable  to  conceive  of  genuine  peace, 
unsupported  by  rectitude.  Happily,  all  wicked  com- 
pacts must,  eventually,  l3e  destroyed  by  the  subversive 
matter  which  they  contain  in  their  own  bowels. 

As  the  subjects  of  these  convictions,  we  can  never 
follow  a  multitude  to  do  evil ;  nor  suffer  ourselves  to  be 
driven  by  a  "  Host,''  from  duty's  plain  path  ;  though, 
in  this,  a  little  child  may  lead  us.     Farewell. 

Signed  by  order,  and  in  behalf  of  the  whole  church, 
October  16,  1816. 

HENRY  HOLCOMBE, 

C/iairrnan  of  the  Delegates  of  the  First  Bafitist  Church  to  the 

Philaddfihia  Bafi'.ht  Association. 


31 


REMARKS,  ^c. 

This  is  the  Protest  which  was  refused  a  single  read- 
ing in  our  Association,  though  made  by  a  church,  rep- 
resented in  history,  as  second  to  none  in  the  United 
States.  And  the  instrument,  even  in  its  present  form, 
we  are  aware,  may  give  offence.  Indeed,  the  probabili- 
ty is  as  ten  to  one,  that  the  very  style,  if  not  the  lan- 
guage* in  which  it  is  written,  will  be  deemed  exception- 
able. But  be  assured,  candid  reader,  a  plainer  statement 
of  the  facts  alluded  to,  would  be  still  more  likely  to 
offend. 

And  had  we  been  less  cautious  in  expressing  our- 
selves, we  might  have  been  involved,  according  to  the 
order  of  the  day,  in  expensive  law-suits.  Several  of  the 
triumphant  majority,  are,  already,  engaged  in  suits  of  a 
seriously  distressing  nature.  In  this  remark,  however, 
we  intend  no  indiscriminate  censure.  The  innocent  are, 
sometimes,  reluctantly  drawn  into  courts  of  judicature 
by  the  guilty.  When  whips,  cudgels,  and  fire-arms  are 
not  only  talked  of,  but  actually  resorted  to,  in  settling 
controversies,  it  is  certainly  time  for  denounced  victims 
of  blind  rage,  to  seek  shelter  under  the  paternal  arm  of 
the  community.  And  all  on  the  Lord's  side  must  see 
the  necessity  of  rising  up  for  him  against  the  workers 
of  iniquity.     We  need  the  whole  armour  of  God.     He, 

*  It  has  been  customary  to  write  and  read  things  improper  to  be 
known  by  the  vulgar,  in  a  dead  language — Latin,  Greek,  or 
Hebrew. 


alone,  knows  in  what  our  "  fiery  trials**  are  to  termi- 
nate. 

After  all,  though  it  is  well  known  that  liberty  of  speech 
has  been  denied  us,  as  well  as  the  right  of  reading  our 
protest,  it  would  be  nothing  new,  were  we  told  that  ad- 
mitting the  truth  of  all  our  statements,  we  ought  to  have 
remained  silent,  and  not  to  have  injured  the  cause  by  a 
publication. 

But,  what  cause?  Not  the  cause  of  Christ.  His 
kingdom  has  nothing  in  it  that  requires  the  aid  of  dark- 
ness. 

Yet,  with  some,  crime  does  not  consist  in  transgress- 
ing the  divine  law  ;  but  in  publishing  transgressions ! 

With  these  emollient  expositors,  it  was  not  Ahab,  the 
troubler  of  Israel,  nor  Herod,  in  the  matter  of  Philip, 
who  sinned  ;  but  Elijah,  and  John  the  Baptist,  in  point- 
edly charging  them  with  their  peccadilloes  ! 

It  is  the  practice,  now-a-days,  to  turn  attention  from 
the  greatest  offences,  by  criminating  the  spirit,  or  the  ob- 
ject, of  the  medium  through  which  they  appear. 

Even  a  text  taken,  or  a  quotation  made,  from  the  word 
of  God,  if  it  admit  of  an  application  to  a  favourite  offen- 
der, will  condemn  a  whole  sermon  !  Instead  of  dispas- 
sionately inquiring  into  facts,  supposed  to  be  unfairly 
stated,  not  fully  established,  or  even  false,  the  custom  is, 
to  rail  against,  and  threaten  their  discloser ;  or,  finding 
his  only  fault  is  speaking  the  truth,  to  say  "  he  is  un- 
worthy of  notice." 

But  our  Association  has  condescended  to  notice  a 
query  from  the  society,  which,  in  contradiction  to  the 
authority  of  the  State,  they  call,  "  The  First  African  Bap- 
tist Churcli  of  Philadelphia.'' 

Now,   gentle  reader,   what  query,  think  you,  could 


S3 

these  sons  of  Ham,  in  obscure  darkness,  propound  to 
our  learned  Association  ?"* 

Whether  persons  excommunicated,  or  who  belong  to 
churches  in  Virginia,  can  be  members  of  a  church  in 
Pennsylvania?  No: — 

Whether  it  be  orderly,  to  pitch  members  of  a  church 
out  of  a  place  of  worship  on  tiieir  heads,  and  drown  their 
cry  of  "murder!"  by  singing  hymns?  No: — 

Whether  it  be  humane,  and  pious,  to  shoot  a  man  for 
calling  slaves,  slaves  ?  No  : — 

On  each  of  these  points  they  appear  to  be  sufficiently 
informed  for  practical  purposes. 

But,  to  keep  you  no  longer  in  suspence,  this  is  their 
query:  "Is  it  consistent  Vvith  the  discipline  of  Baptist 
churches,  for  regular  ministers  among  us  to  administer 
the  Lord's  supper  to  persons  excluded,  and  by  preach- 
ing for  them  to  support  them  in  their  unwarrantable  con- 
duct ?" 

And  though  simply  stating  such  a  question  insults 
the  plainest  understanding,  to  say  nothing  of  the  quarter 
from  which  it  came,  our  dignified  council,  with  all  the  gra- 
vity of  a  bench  of  bishops,  took  it  into  their  considera- 
tion !  And,  like  an  assembly  of  Daniels,  answered  it 
emphatically,  in  the  negative  !   '•'■It  is  not.'''' 

May  we  not  anticipate  the  following,  as  similar  que- 
ries ? 

Must  irregular,  or  disorderly  ministers,  among  us, 
have  their  hands  tied  by  our  discipline  ? 

*  The  attentive  reader  will  ob:ierve,  tlsat  this  query  respects 
®r.ly  one  small  society  of  Flam's  sons— who,  as  such.,  are  on  equ?J 
groimds  with  those  oi  Ja/theth.  In  many  of  their  kindred,  accord- 
ing to  the  iiesh,  we  joyfully  recognise  the  cnlip:htened,  and  pre- 
cious sons  and  daughters  of  Zion. 

E 


34 

Is  it  matter  of  any  moment,  for  what,  or  by  whom^ 
persons  are  excluded  from  church-privileges  ? 

May  a  man  under  the  highest  censure  of  a  gospel 
church,  preach,  and  administer  the  Lord's  Supper  ? 

Are  we  obliged  to  keep  any,  especially  the  sixth, 
seventh,  and  eighth  of  the  ten  commandments  ? 

Is  Pontius  Pilate  the  Saviour  of  the  world? 

One  of  this  class  of  people,  a  few  years  ago,  in  South 
Carolina,  to  the  query,  "Who  is  Christ?"  replied, 
"  Abraham !"  And  the  most  superficial  reader  of  the 
query  to  our  Association,  must  perceive  that  neither  of 
the  above  queries  exceeds  it  in  the  flagrance  of  its  ab- 
surdity. What !  is  it  matter  of  doubt,  whether  minis- 
ters, regular,  or  irregular,  among  us,  may,  consistently 
with  our  discipline,  preach  to  persons  excluded,  to  en- 
courage them  in  unwarrantable  conduct  ?  It  would  be 
highly  absurd  to  inquire  if  it  be  right  to  do  evil*  that 
good  may  come  ;  but  it  is  much  more  so  to  ask  whether 
our  ministers  may,  or  may  not,  oppose  our  discipline  in 
its  operations,  support  unwarrantable  conduct,  by  the 
prostitution  of  their  office,  and  have  fellowship  with  the 
unfruitful  works  of  darkness  ! 

But,  we  hope  the  churches  concerned,  will  seriously 
weigh,  and  solidly  answer,  the  query  which  follows  : — Is 
the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  in  its  present  state, 
sanctioned  by  the  Holy  Scriptures? 

Those  churches  are  very  competent  to  judge,  ^^•hal 
manner  of  spirit  this  body  breathes,  what  number  and 
kind  of  delegates  compose  it,  what  order  it  maintains, 
the  discipline  it  patronizes,  the  correctness  of  its  state- 

*  Any  kind — or  the  least  degree  of  it. 


35 

ments,  the  weight  of  its  letters^,  the  sum  of  its  advice, 
and  \\'hat  examples  it  sets  for  their  imitation. 

And,  after  ascertaining  their  late  conduct,  the  churches 
composing  it  must  find  themselves  deeply  interested  in 

*  The  majority  against  whose  acts  we  protest,  as  above,  in  their 
corresponding  letter,  say,  "our  session  has  been  proti-acted  to  an 
unusual  length."  Unusual  indeed — eight  days — one  of  which  was 
occupied — after  a  new  fashion — till  midnight ! 

To  account  for  this  singular  protraction,  they  speak  of  elaborate 
investigation,  and  a  decision,  which,  they  believe,  "  goes  to  estab- 
lish the  Independence  of  our  churches." 

Whatever  annoyance  our  churches  may  suffer  from  despotism, 
Ave  hope  they  will  never  need  associational  support  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  their  Independence.  It  has  long  been  well  established  ;, 
and,  stable  as  a  rock  amid  conflicting  billows,  holds  in  just  con- 
tempt the  rage,  and  envy,  of  assailants. 

Were  the  decision  referred  to,  however,  to  unfold  its  legitimate 
tendencies,  to  a  certain  degree,  it  would,  most  assuredly,  dtstr-jy 
every  vestige  of  our  discipline  and  harmony.  Their  decision 
that  the  Africans  on  our  minutes  are  an  orderly  gospel  church, 
virtually  says,  that  the  language  of  our  church  books  may  be  pro- 
fane— the  order  of  worshipping  assemblies  maintained  by  muscu- 
lar force — and  that  we  are  at  liberty  to  receive,  and  retain  in  our 
communion,  persons  eloped  from  distant  places,  without  creden- 
tials— persons  either  members  of  other  churches — or  under  ex- 
communication—and, persons,  confessedly,  in  nature's  dark- 
ness ! 

Wc  rejoice  to  alleviate  the  distresses  of  our  most  unfortunate 
fellow-creatures  ;  but  cannot  agree  to  patronize  the  disorderly,  in 
either  civil  or  religious  society. 

Rather  "  come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith 
the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  and  I  will  receive  you, 
and  will  be  a  Father  unto  you  ;  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and  daugh- 
ters," adds  he  who  established  the  Independence  of  Churches, 
long  before  the  existence  of  Associations, 


36 

practically  determining  on  the  nature  of  its  claims,  if  iiv 
deed  it  possess  any,  to  their  patronage. 

And  one  more  query,  in  particular,  we  are  humbly  of 
opinion,  ought  to  be  agitated  among  us.  It  is  simply 
this  : — Can  a  minister,  once  justly  excommunicated  for 
gross  immorality,  ever  be  restored,  on  scriptural  grounds, 
to  his  office  ? 

To  this  however,  there  are  previous  questions,^  which 
we  find  stated,  and,  we  think,  well  answered,  ina  circular 
letter  from  the  Baptist  ministers  and  messengers,  assem- 
bled at  Hamsterly,  Old  England,  May  26  and  27, 1779, 
in  the  following  terms: — 

1.  *'  Can  a  person  cast  out  of  a  church  for  disorderly  con- 
duct, stand,  in  right,  either  to  that  or  other  orderly 
churches,  in  any  other  light  than  an  excommunicated 
person,  although  he  be  received  into  fellowship  by  a 
people  who  call  themselves  orderly,  especially  when 
the  people  receiving  him  know  him  to  be  excommu- 
nicated, and  yet  never  made  application  to  the  church 
which  excommunicated  him,  to  enquire  into  his  re- 
pentance,  and  loose  him  from  the  censure  thereof?" 

The  answer  to  which  was 

He  ouglit  still  to  be  considered,  as  in  right  he  is,  an 
excommunicated  person.  For,  if  such  a  person  had  re- 
pented, he  ought  to  manifest  it  unto  those  from  whom 
he  was  separated.  Nor  has  any  other  people  a  right  to 
receive  him,  according  to  the  laws  of  Christ,  until  that 
people  have  satisfaction  concerning  his  repentance ;  or 
at  least  inform  them,  of  his  crime,  who  wait  to  receive 
him,  and  give  them  liberty  to  deal  widi  him  accordingly. 
For  other  churches  to  receive  excommunicated  per- 
sons,  KNOWING  them  to  be  such,  is  to  trample  on 
the  authority  of  King  Jesus,  to  throw  down  the  waU-s 


of  Zion,  to  encourage  and  harden  men  in  sin,  and  to  fill 
the  churches  with  the  erroneous,  the  licentious,  and  pro- 
fane. 

2.  If  such  a  person  take  upon  him  to  preach  the  gospel, 
is  it  lawful  and  orderly  for  any,  church  members  es- 
pecially, to  hear  him  ;  especially  if  they  are  advertised 
of  these  things,  and  are  members  of  the  church  that 
cut  him  off? 

Answered — Unlanvful  for  any — more  so  for  church 
members — most  of  all  for  those  advertised  of  it,  and 
members  of  the  church  which  cut  him  off.  Because 
with  such  we  ought  not  to  eat — of  other  men's  sins  we 
ought  not  to  partake— but  this  conduct,  by  encouraging 
and  hardening  the  person  in  his  errors,  will  involve  us  in 
his  guilt. 

We  are  not  to  give  offence — but  this  practice  is  offen- 
sive both  to  God  and  good  men. 

In  one  word ;  to  hear  such,  only  occasionally,  may  be 
productive  of  much  evil,  both  to  ourselves  and  others, 
and  therefore  to  be  avoided. 

And  if  any  one  of  ours  have  been  blameable,  in  things 
of  this  nature,  we  are  wiUing  to  say,  with  good  old  Jacob, 
peradventure  it  was  an  oversight ;  but  hope,  for  the  Re- 
deemer's honour  and  the  Church's  welfare,  they  will  no 
more  be  overseen  therein.'''' 

What  the  Association  said  of  us,  and  Our  protest,  at 
their  next  session,  appears  in  their  minutes  as  follows  t — ■ 
"  A  committee  was  appointed  to  attend  to  the  resolu- 
tions and  requests,  contained  in  many  of  the  letters  from 
the  churches  relative  to  the  protest  of  the  First  Philadel- 
phia Church,  against  the  proceedings  of  our  last  Associ- 
ation. Brother  M'Laughlin,  Hough,  Grigg,  Allison,  and 
Montayne  formed  the  committee. 


38 

The  committee  appointed  on  the  subject  of  a  protest 
against  the  proceedings  of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  As- 
sociation by  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia, 
with  prefatory  and  concluding  extracts  and  remarks  by 
Henry  Holcombe,  their  Pastor,  respectfully  report, 

That  such  a  publication  was  entirely  unprovoked  by 
the  Association,  whose  measures,  ensured  in  said  protest, 
your  committee  consi-kr  wise,  just,  and  necessary  ;  ac- 
cording with  the  discipline  of  our  churches  and  the  word 
of  God.  They  regret  the  unchristian  temper  it  breathes, 
and  the  very  palpable  misrepresentations  with  which  it 
abounds.  They  consider  its  tendency  as  mischievous, 
calculated  to  mislead  the  uninformed  ;  and  are  of  opinion 
that  said  church  owe  it  as  a  duty  to  this  body,  to  retrace 
their  unwaiTantable  steps,  or,  in  case  of  perseverance  in 
their  present  unhappy  course,  that  the  Association  owes 
it  to  her  own  honour  and  harmony,  and  to  the  cause  of 
righteousness  and  truth,  to  separate  from  her  body  a 
church  with  whom  she  cannot  have  communion^.  The 
Association  suspend  any  further  proceedings,  leaving  the 
whole  for  the  solemn  consideration  of  said  church  until 
the  next  Association. 

Ordered  to  be  recorded  as  unanimousli/ ^dopted.^'' 

Shortly  after  the  reception  of  those  widely  dissemina- 
ted charges,  and  menaces  against  us,  we  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  dispassionately  examine  their  merits. 

On  due  consideration,  as  we  believe,  and  prayer  for 
divine  direction,  after  recapitulating  tlie  contents  of  those 
articles,  they  made  the  following  report: — 

"  From  the  various  facts  which  have  been  developed 
between  the  meeting  of  the  Association  in  1816  and 
1817,  we  are  fully  of  opinion,  that  the  members  of  this 

*  Here  the  report  ends — and  the  Association,  it  would  seem, 
act  upon  it  /irior  to  its  adoption. 


39 

council  ought  to  have  been  convinced^  of  the  truths  and 
propriety.,  of  the  substance  co?itamed  in  our  protest. 

In  the  case  of  William  White,  we  think  ample  proof 
of  it  has  been  given  by  the  body,  who  published  his  ca- 
reer of  immorality  as  "  unparalleled.^^ 

We  did  hope  this  developement  would  have  taught  her 
a  lesson  of  moderation,  relative  to  the  protest. 

Had  she  not  been  under  improper  influence,  instead  of 
being  guided  by  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  dictates  of 
the  HOLY  SPIRIT,  there  would  have  been  no  necessity  for 
a  church  anxious  to  maintain  truth  and  order  to  have  pro- 
tested against  her  proceedings :  neither  would  there  have 
been  any  necessity  for  publishing  our  protest,  if  the  Asso- 
ciation had  suffered  it  to  have  been  read. 

The  committee  recommend,  that  the  church  adhere 
to  the  truth  contained  in  said  protest,  and  that  a  let- 
ter be  written,  and  delegates  appointed,  to  the  next  As- 
sociation, with  instructions,  if  necessary,  to  call  for  expli- 
cit specif  cations  of  the  charges  alluded  to  by  them,  in 
thtir  minutes  of  1817;  and  to  enter  into  any  arrange- 
ments, calculated,  in  their  opinion,  to  restore  and  pro- 
mote harmony,    between    that    body  and  this  church, 

CONSISTENTLY   WITH     THE     CAUSE     OF     TRUTH    AND 

RIGHTEOUSNESS.  But,  should  a  disposition  continue 
and  prevail  in  that  body,  to  persevere  in  the  unwarrant- 
able course  of  injustice  and  persecution,  against  this 
church,  began  by  them  in  1816,  and  continued  in  1817, 
then  the  messengers  should  be  authorized  to  assert  the 
INDEPENDENCE  of  the  church,  and  separate  from  an 
Association  who  have  assumed  undelegated  powers,  in 
publishing  slanders  against  this  church,  and  threatening 
to  separate  her  from  their  body. 


40 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Signed)  Geo.  Ingels, 

Hugh  Gourley, 
Joseph  Keen, 
John  M'Leod, 
Levi  Garrett, 
William  Duncan, 
Elijah  Griffiths, 
Joseph   S.  Walter. 

Cordially  adopting  this  report,  conformably  to  a  re- 
commendation it  contains,  we  addressed  to  the  late 
Association  the  following  epistle  : — 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia,  holding, 
and  7naintaining,  the  doctrines,  ordinances,  and  disci- 
pline comprised  in  our  excellent  confession  of  faith,  to 
the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  send  christian 
salutation  : 

Beloved  Brethren, 

At  your  last  session,  from  circumstances  which 
it  would  be  uninteresting  to  detail,  you  received  from 
us  neither  letter  nor  messengers.  As  circumstances  of 
this  nature,  from  various  causes,  frequently  occur  in  all 
our  Associations,  your  candour  will  require  of  us  no 
apology. 

We  embrace  the  present  opportunity,  to  renew  to 
you  the  assurance,  that  we  highly  appreciate  the  com- 
munion of  saints,  and  resume  our  epistolary  correspon- 
dence with  you,  under  the  influence  of  a  sincere  desire 
to  promote,  on  the  principles  of  the  relation  in  which 
wc  stand  to  each  other,  as  independent  churches,  perma- 
nent peace  and  h3rmony. 


41 

As  delegates  of  these  favoured  bodies  we  address 
you,  and  from  your  wisdom,  influenced  and  regulated 
by  the  Spirit  and  Laws  of  our  common  Lord,  anticipate 
happy  results. 

We  have  great  reason  for  gratitude  to  the  God  of  all 
grace  and  consolation,  for  the  continuance  of  unity  and 
peace  among  ourselves,  for  the  stated  ministry  of  the 
word,  and  the  regular  administration  of  gospel  ordi- 
nances. 

Our  congregations  are  uniformly  large  and  attentive, 
and,  we  hope,  favoured  with  the  divine  presence. 

Trusting  that,  as  we  have  received  the  Lord  Jesus,  so 
we  have  been  enabled,  through  grace,  to  walk  in  him, 
judge  of  our  surprise,  brethren,  when,  in  your  minutes 
of  last  year,  we  found  ourselves  charged  with  having 
made  '■^palpable  misrepresentations^''  and  with  ^^  pursuing 
an  unwarrantable  course  /" 

And  to  be  threatened,  as  we  were,  without  even  a 
specification  of  crime,  real  or  imaginary,  by  your  body, 
with  the  highest  censure,  was,  in  our  humble  opinion^ 
a  still  greater  departure  from  every  corrrect  rule  of  asso- 
ciational  proceedings. 

Acquainted,  therefore,  as  you  will  readily  acknowledge 
us  to  be,  with  our  rights,  and  with  your  delegated 
powers,  we  confidently  indulge  the  hope,  that  you  will 
dispassionately  reconsider,  and,  as  publicly  as  they  have 
been  past,  rescind,  the  resolutions  embracing  those  points. 

If  you  admit,  what  surely  none  can  deny,  that  an  en- 
lightened independent  body  will  never  delegate  a  right 
to  infringe  its  own  privileges,  or  sully  its  character,  you 
must,  at  once,  perceive,  that,  had  our  conduct  been  ex. 
ceptionable,  we  were  not  amenable  at  your  bar. 

Churches  of  our  Order,  understanding  their  Christian 

F 


45i 

Liberty,  will  never  suffer  themselves  to  be  arraigned 
before  a  few  of  their  own  members,  associated;  nor 
before  any  other  men  or  body  on  earth. 

If  one  church  may  be  dishonoured,  not  by  a  transfer- 
red, but,  as  we  conceive,  an  usurped  \to\YtVy  another  may, 
a  third  may,  and  so  on,  until,  by  such  an  usurpation, 
some  man,  men,  or  body,  may,  at  length,  possess,  and 
exercise,  dominion  over  all  the  churches. 

To  you,   brethren,  we  look,  with  equal  respect  and 
confidence,  to  assert,  and  vindicate,  in  your  minutes, 
our  rights  and  character,  as  an  independent    Church  of 
Christ. 

It  is  our  happiness  to  live  in  a  discerning  age  and 
country,  and,  be  assured,  we  feel  an  ardent  solicitude  to 
see  things  so  conducted,  that  the  wise  and  good  of  all 
denominations  may  unite  in  honouring  them  with  their 
approbation. 

Brethren,  to  the  Law,  and  to  the  Testimony,  and,  in 
so  far  as  founded  on  this  Word,  to  our  Confession  of 
Faith,  and  Church  Discipline,  let  us  direct  our  regards, 
and  not  to  individuals,  nor  party-interests,  lest  haply 
we  be  found  even  to  fight  against  God. 

If  sincere  in  our  profession,  Christ  is  our  Master, 
and  we  are  brethren. 

Let  us  leave  others  presumptuously  to  say,  "  We  will 
not  have  this  man  to  reign  over  iis.^^ 

O  that  the  language  of  our  tempers  and  conduct  may 
be,  "He  is  Lord  of  all." 

Be  it  our  constant  aim  to  take  the  right  side  of  all 
questions,  whoever  it  may  affect,  that,  knowing  no  man 
after  the  flesh,  we  may  have  the  honour  to  be  ^^  fellow - 
helpers  to  the  truthJ'^ 

Finally,  brethren,  if,  in  the  spirit  of  conciliation  and 


48 

love,  you  will  show  that  with,  or  without  provocation, 
we  have  made  any  false  statement,  or  taken  a  single  step 
in  an  unwarrantable  course,  we  are  prepared  to  retread 
this,  and  correct  that,  with  a  view  to  the  harmony  of  the 
Churches,  and  the  glory  of  God. 

And,  from  an  equally  sincere  regard  to  the  same  im- 
portant objects,  we  doubt  not  but  you  will  calmly  re- 
view your  minutes,  as  they  respect  our  conduct,  and  do 
us  that  justice  the  case  may  require. 

Since  our  last  communication,  we  have  received  by 
baptism  75 — by  letter  27 — dismissed  31* — excluded 
12 — deceased  17 — present  number  492. 

Wishing  you  a  session  distinguished  by  many  to- 
kens for  good,  we  remain,  as  ever,  yours  in  gospel 
bonds. 

Signed  the  evening  before  the  opening  of  the  Associa- 
tion, in  behalf  of  the  whole  church — without  a  dissent- 
ing voice. 

John  M'Leod,  Clerk. 

Joseph  S.  Walter,  Assistant  Clerk. 

Should  it  be  thought  that  confidence  and  esteem  were 
not  sincerely  expressed  in  this  letter,  it  must  be  con- 
sidered, that  churches  frequently  change  their  delegatesy 
and  that  those  who  act  improperly  at  one  session,  charity 
hopes  will  REPENT,  and  do  well^  afterwards. 

The  names  of  the  delegates  we  omitted  in  the  church's 
letter,  to  prevent  an  unnecessary  repetition,  as  they  ap- 
pear, with  a  few  exceptions^,  in  the  following  report  : 

*  Of  these  was  the  majority  of  the  members  who  lately  con- 
stituted the  Baptist  Church  in  Camden,  New-Jersey. 

t  These  exceptions  are  Jive — three  of  which  are  ascribable  to 
professional  duties — bodily  indisposition — and  filial  delicacy : — 
and  the  other  two— to  unknoivn  causes. 


44 

"  We,  the  undersigned  delegates,  appointed  on  the 
5th  instant,  to  the  Association,  respectfully  report: — 
that  we  presented  your  letter  to  the  moderator,  and,  with 
some  difficulty^  procured  the  reading  of  it — that,  when 
called  to  answer  to  charges,  in  their  last  year's  minutes, 
of  having  made  '■'■palpable  misrepresentations,''''  in  our 
protest,  and  taken  "  unwarrantable  steps,'*''  we  called  for 
specijications  of  those  things,  but  in  vain — that  verbal^ 
as  well  as  written,  specifications,  were  denied  us — that^ 
instead  of  specifications,  they  proposed  stating  the  rea- 
sons that  influenced  the  committee  that  penned  those 
charges — that,  the  reasonableness  of  our  proposition, 
to  have  specifications  of  our  alleged  "  misrepresenta- 
tions,'' and  "  unwarrantable  steps,"  stated  to  us,  being 
OBVIOUS,  we  could  but  consider  their  refusal  to  accede  to 
it,  as  E  V  A  s  1 0  N — that,  retiring,  a  few  minutes,  by  permis' 
sion,  we  agreed  to  request,  in  writing,  those  specijica' 
tions — THAT  WE  DID  THIS,  but  witliout  moviug them 
from  the  ground  they  had  taken — that,  treated  with  utter 
inattention,  as  to  the  business  in  hand,  after  waiting  until 
the  attention  of  that  body  was  turned  to  another  sub- 
ject, we  observed,  that  all  hope  of  accommodation  with 
them  had  expired,  and  withdrew,  agreeably  to 
our  instructiojis — bidding  them — f  a  r  e  w  e  l  l  . 

It  is  with  pain,  we  add,  that  attempts  were  made, 
not  only  to  prevent  the  reading  of  your  letter,  but  to 
silence  us,  as  the  representatives  of  a  body  charged  with 
^'^  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors,''''  and  '•'■  arraigned  for 
■iral,''''  at  their  bar  ! 

These  extravagant  expressions,  it  is  true,  were  used 
by  an  individual,  but  one  who  stands  high  in  that 
"  Advisory  Council,''''  as  we  have,  hitherto,  considered  it 


45 

without  the  slightest  reproof,  or  correction  by  the  mode- 
rator /" 

Signed — Henry  Holcombe,  William  Rogers,  George 
Ingels,  John  M'Leod,  Joseph  Keen,  Hugh  Gourley, 
Levi  Garrett,  Joseph  S.  Walter,  Thomas  Brown, 
Joseph  Reynolds,  John  Davis,  Elijah  Griffiths,  William 
Duncan,  David  Johns,  Henry  Benner,  Silas  W.  Sexton, 
William  S.  Hansell,  Thomas  Wattson,  David  Weatherly, 
Samuel  W.  Keen. 

This  report,  at  an  unusually  full  meeting  of  the  mem- 
bers, of  both  sexes,  was  promptly  adopted,  with  but 
one  dissenting  voice. 

A  general  joy  ran  through  the  church,  and  congratu- 
lations  were  reciprocated,  on  the  assurance  given,  that 
we  had  withdrawn  from  the  Association,  and  were 
to  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  that  body,  in  her  pre- 
sent disorganized  and  fallen  state. 

A  review  of  the  axioms,  stated  in  the  Preface,  and  of 
our  CHARTER,  Contrasted  with  their  late  conduct,  vj'iW 
enable  the  churches  to  judge  of  the  expediency  of  look- 
ing forward  to  a  society,  constituted  on  our  original  prin- 
ciples, under  the  name  and  style  of,  "  The  reformed 
Philadelphia  Baptist  Association."  This,  we 
conceive,  should  be  our -poh'E  star. 

Having  thus  stated  the  grounds  on  which  we  with- 
drew from  this  body,  we  respectfully  solicit  the  com- 
pany of  those  to  whom  we  affectionately  dedicate  this 
piece,  through  a  few  more  pages,  to  the  conclusion. 

You  have  now  seen,  in  a  clear  and  unequivocal  light, 
how  offences,  and  controversies,  originated  amongst  the 
Baptists  of  Philadelphia.  Our  protest,  against  which 
much  has  been  said,  with  a  few  short  illustrative  notes, 
necessary  to    strangers  only,  has  past   your  impartial 


46 

scrutiny  ;  and  you  have  seen  the  charges  it  has  been  the 
occasion  of  drawing  on  us,  the  report  on  them  by  our 
committee,  our  letter  to  the  late  Association,  and  the 
report  of  our  delegates  on  the  reception  with  which  they 
met  in  that  body. 

The  causes  which  ultimately  compelled  us  to  come 
out  from  this  Association,  and  to  be  separate^  have  not 
escaped  your  attention ;  nor  the  formal,  and  very  public 
mid  explicit  manner  of  effecting  this  separation. 

You  are,  therefore,  now  prepared,  and  \iOss\h\y  anxious y 
to  see  what  the  minutes  of  their  last  session  say  on  the 
subject  of  our  bidding  them  farewel. 

It  cannot  have  escaped  your  notice,  that  they,  who 
claimed  to  be  our  judges,  were  our  only  accusers  ;  and, 
though  hard  pressed  to  give  some  instance  of  improper 
conduct  on  our  part— even  to  the  making  of  a  single  mis- 
representation, or  taking  one  unwarrantable  step — they 
have  not  been  prevailed  on  to  attempt  it !  They  say, 
indeed,  but  have  not j&roD*?^/,  nor  ccw  they,  that,  '•^en- 
tirely unprovoked^"*  we  published  our  protest  against 
their  proceedings ;  but  the  facts,  of  which  you  will 
judge,  are,  they  not  only  peremptorily  refused  to 
hear  us  read  it,  but  suffered  their  chief  speaker,  Wil- 
liam White,  to  say,  without  reproof,  when  it  was  in- 
timated, that  if  they  would  not  hear  us  read  it,  we  should 
publish  it,  "  TheyHl  not  Ti  KVi'S.  to  publish  it,  brethren, 
— there  will  be  no  publication.''''  We  would  respectfully 
ask — what  would  an  enlightened  and  free  people,  hun- 
dreds of  whom  were  present  on  the  occasion  referred  to, 
have  thought  of  us,  had  we  continued  silent,  under  these 
circumstances  ?  And  you  must  be  left  to  think,  what 
you   please,   of  a  body  who,  know'ing  these  things. 


47 

said   our   publication   was    "  entirely   unprovoked  by 
them^*'' 

After  thus  egregiously,  as  we  conceive,  committing 
themselves  in  the  out-set^  they  pronounce  the  measures 
which  our  protest  censures — "  wise,  just,  and  neces* 
SARY  !"  This,  you  will  find,  is  saying,  by  undeniable 
implication^  that  to  do  business  in  caucuses^  before  the 
meeting  of  the  Association,  is  wise — the  refusing  of  a 
minority  the  right  to  read  their  protest  against  proceed- 
ings of  the  majority y  which  they  disapprove,  is  just — 
and  the  admission  of  disorderly — or  even  excommuni- 
cated ^trsQYis  into  our  churches — "  necessary." 

Our  temper  you  may  recollect,  as  breathed  in  the  pro- 
test under  their  notice,  is  regretted  as  *-'•  unchristian  ;'''' 
but,  appealing  from  "  their  bar,''^  to  the  "  law  and  to 
the  testimony,''''  we  cheerfully  leave  this  unerring  crite- 
rion of  a  christian  temper,  to  define  what  maimer  of 
temper  that  is,  which  can  have  no  fellowship  with  the 
works  of  darkness,  and  reproves  them  "  sharply.^"* 

From  the  temper  which  our  protest  breathes,  they 
transfer  their  regrets  to  the  "  very  palpable  misrepresen- 
tations" with  which,  they  affirm,  "it  abounds."  But, 
as  they  have  never  so  much  as  attempted  to  prove  this 
bold  assertion,  by  a  quotation  from  our  protest,  or  other- 
wise, we  sliall,  in  answer  to  it,  merely  ask  the  following 
question  : — who  can  believe  that  any,  professedly,  chris- 
tian society,  of  half  our  number,  would  offer  to  read  an 
instrument  abounding  with  "  very  palpable  misrepre- 
sentations," respecting  things  which  had  just  occurred, 
in  the  presence  of  those  earnestly  requested  to  hear  it  ? 

*  O  my  soul,   come  not  thou  into  their  secret ;  unto  their  as* 
sembly,  mine  honour,  be  not  thoii  united  !— Jacob. 


48 

Or,  should  such  an  inconceivable  event  have  happened, 
is  it  morally  possible^  that  the  body,  hearing  those  nume- 
rous, and  "  very  palpable^  misrepresentations,"  should 
refuse,  on  a  just  demand,  to  specify  one,  even  to 
save  their  own  veracity  from  being  rendered  questiona- 
ble ?  These  queries  obviously  involve  their  proper 
answers. 

The  truth  is,  if  we  may  depend  on  the  most  credible 
testimony,  the  knowledge  of  certahi  things  in  our 
protest  J  was  carried  over  the  walls  of  the  Church,  to 
our  opponents ;  and  their  leaders  had  the  address  to 
prevent  the  readhig  of  it,  as  the  only  means  of  evadingy 
at  that  critical  juncture  of  their  affairs,  an  exposure  to  its 
just,  and  necessary  severity. 

The  committee  proceed  from  what  they  represent,  as 
our  theoretical  2AxQz\\At%  to  charge  us  with /;rfl!c??ca/,  and 
reiterated  vices,  under  the  denomination  of  "  unwarrant- 
able steps,''  so  numerous  as  to  constitute  an  "  unhappy 
COURSE."  And  we  hereby  promise  them  a  solid  re- 
ply, whenever  it  may  suit  their  convenience,  and  be  in 
their  power,  to  throw  over  this  crude,  lunvieldy,  and  zw- 
credible  crarge"*,  the  slightest  shadow  of  justice. 

It  must  be  recollected  that  the  report  on  which  we 
have  bestowed  a  few  remarks,  was,  "  Ordered,  to  be 
recorded  as  unanimously  adopted." 

In  taking  our  leave  of  it,  we  are  authorised  to  say,  that 
this  "  Order,"  was  predicated  on  iiiadequate grounds. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  attend  to  what  the  Associa- 
tion say  of  these  things  in  the  minutes  of  their  late  ses- 
sion ;  and  we  find  it  comprised  in  the  following  lines : 

"  It  was  moved  and  carried,  that  we  proceed  imme- 
diately to  a  full  and  final  consideration  of  the  22d  minute 

*  It  much  resembles  the  charge  in  Acts  17.  6.  "  These  that 
have  turned  the  world  upside  down  are  come  hither  also." 


49 

of  the  proceedings  of  last  year,  respecting  the  First 
Church  of  Philadelphia. 

Adjourned  till  3  o'clock. 

Met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Resumed  the  business  of  the  First  Church;  the 
result  of  which  was,  a  Resolution^  that  this  Association, 
conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  her  own  acts  in  relation  to 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Philadelphia,  and  from  the 
persevering  conduct  of  said  Church,  as  manifested  by  her 
present  delegation ;  are  constrained  to  say,  they  cannot 
continue  her  any  longer  a  member  of  this  body." 

Now,  christian  friends,  can  you  believe,  that  such  a 
motion  as  this  was  ever  made  and  carried,  in  the  presence 
of  our  delegation?  We  conceive  that  you  cannot. 
If  it  could  be  supposed  that  this  motion  was  made,  and 
carried,  it  would  follow,  that  Xh^y  previously  Att^rmmt^^ 
in  CAUCUS,  to  make  short  work  of  what  concerned  us. 
Had  they  left  themselves  to  be  governed  by  rising  events, 
how  could  they  have  determined  to  proceed  to  the  '■'■fuW 
and  ^^JinaV  consideration  of  our  case  ?  How  did  they 
know  but  that  we  should  manifest  signs  of  repentance, 
and  humbly  request  their  indulgence,  and  \hi6x  prayers^ 
for  ^^  one  year  more,'*''  as  preliminaries  to  the  "Juir'sLnd 
^^JinaP  consideration  of  their  minute  respecting  us  ? 
And  had  the  church,  of  which  more  than  half  their 
number  of  individuals  are  descendants,  prostrated  her- 
self at  their  feet,  imploring  the  prolongation  of  their  cle- 
mency and  forbearance,  for  a  few  months,  how  could  they 
have  sternly  resisted  such  iinportunity  ? 

But,  if  we  may  be  permitted  to  disclose  the  truths  on 
the  united  testimony  of  our  delegation,  neither  the  word, 
"  FULL,"  nor  "  FINAL,"  was  in  the  motion  to  which  they 
have  here  reference. 

G 


50 

This  deviation  from  accuracy ^  however,  should  be  as- 
cribed, perhaps,  to  a  dignified  negligence  of  what  they 
may  deem  *'  small  thingsy 

On  the  result  of  this  very  comprehensive  motion,  they 
are  concise,  in  the  extreme. 

They  take  no  notice,  whatever^  of  the  articles  in- 
cluded in  the  report  of  our  delegates.  It  is  particularly 
interesting  for  the  friends  of  truth  and  order,  for  whose 
information  we  write,  to  know,  whether  the  resolution  in 
which  the  motion^  in  question^  resulted,  was  passed 
BEFORE,  or  AT  J  z^j  the  withdrawing  of  our  delegation 
from  their  body.  If  before,  they  might  be  correct,  in 
saying  they  could  not  continue  us  any  longer  a  member 
of  their  body  ;  but  if  after,  their  resolution  \ii  calculated^ 
and  must  have  been  deliberately  intendedy  to  impress  the 
public  mind,  with  the  belief  that  we  had  stood  our  trial  at 
the  bar  of  our  accusers;  and,  after  retaining  the  honour  of 
a  connexion  with  them  as  long  as  possible,  were  expelled 
from  their  body.  Christian  friends,  be  assured^  this  de- 
ceptive, and  \\\^'\\y  farcical^  resolution  passed,  af- 
ter our  delegates,  calling  heaven  and  earth  to  witness  the 
flagrance  of  their  disorder,  and  bijusticey  had  retired  from 
them^  to  enjoy,  with  us,  a  happy  Independence^  and  receive 
the  confidence  and  esteem  due  to  their  well-tried  in- 
tegrity. 

When  that  Assembly  were  speaking  of  what  they  call- 
ed the  rectitude  of  their  acts — of  not  being  able  to  re- 
tain, a  previously  withdrawn  churchy  any  longer  a 
member  of  the.  r  body — and  of  an  absent,  as  a  pre- 
sent, delegation y  how  good  men  could  sit  in  silence,  it 
is  hoped iv/ll  be  enquired iiito  by  their  Constituents*. 

*'Tyitfew  ill  the  Association,  wlio,  after  we  withdrew,  spoke 
!n    our    behalf,     and    the    numbers   who     boldly    arxoinpanied 


51 

After  the  termination  of  our  concern  with  that  body, 
as  above,  they  say  in  their  9th  minute,  "  Brethren  Peck- 
worth  and  Proudfoot  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
examine  the  Minutes  of  other  Associations."  In  their 
18th  Minute,  it  appears,  "  The  committee  to  whom 
were  referred  the  Minutes  of  the  Corresponding  Associ- 
ations, reported,  that  they  find  nothing  in  them  that  calls 
for  our  attention." 

Now  it  happens  to  be  within  our  knowledge,  that 
the  "  Minutes  of  the  Boston  Baptist  Association,  held 
at  the  Baptist  Meeting- House  in  Woburn,  Sept.  16  and 
17, 1818,"  were  amongst  theminutes  which  were  con- 
sidered  as  containing  nothing  that  called  for  their  at- 
tention. The  churches,  and  individuals,  we  have  the 
honour  of  addressing,  we  think,  will  be  of  a  different 
opinion,  on  perusing,  from  the  last  mentioned  Minutes, 
the  following,  if  we  mistake  not,  very  important 

ARTICLE : — 

"  We  notice  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Hartford  Baptist 
Association  an  account  of  several  persons  travelling 
about  the  country  under  the  character  of  Baptist  preach- 
ers, who  are  evidently  notorious  impostors.  Such  im- 
positions are  frequently  practised  upon  the  churches. 
Men  of  corrupt  principles  and  immoral  lives,  not  un- 
frequently  obtrude  themselves  upon  society.  If  things 
were  set  in  proper  order  in  the  churches,  they  would 
not  find  it  easy  to  get  admittance.  But  there  are  in 
most  communities  some  brethren  of  warm  temperament^ 
possessing  more  zeal  than  knowledge,  who  think  it  of 


us,  partaking  of  our  disgust  at  the  conduct  of  our  opponents,  and 
sharing  the  honour  of  their  revilings,  are  entitled  to  just  praise^ 
and  will  gratify  us  by  receiving  our  sincere  acknowledgments. 


5S 

little  importance  what  a  man  believes,  provided  he  ap- 
pears to  come  in  the  power  of  religion*  A  designing 
impostor  will  need  nothing  more  to  give  him  currency 
■with  such  good  men,  than  a  false  show  of  humility, 
acompanied  with  strong  assurances  that  he  is  actuated 
by  pure  zeal  for  God. 

With  a  view  to  prevent  such  impositions  as  far  as 
possible,  we  would  recommend,  that  no  person  who  is 
a  stranger  be  received  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  who 
has  not  credentials  of  the  most  unequivocal  nature.  In- 
deed travelling  preachers  ought  to  take  letters  from  one 
minister,  or  public  character  to  another,  as  far  as  they 
travel.  A  man  of  fair  character  will  find  no  difficulty 
in  obtaining  such  letters,  and  those  who  cannot  ob- 
tain them,  or  who  carelessly  neglect  them,  ought  not 
to  be  received. 

Impostors  usually  have  papers,  but  if  you  examine 
them,  you  will  generally  find  them  of  an  ancient  date, 
or  from  characters  unknown  to  those  where  they  travel*. 
Is  it  not  manifest  that  a  greater  degree  of  watchfulness 
is  wanting,  especially  in  such  churches  as  have  not  a 
stated  pastor  ?  We  would  hence  advise,  that  no  church 
destitute  of  a  pastor,  invite  a  stranger,  of  whom  they 
liave  no  knowledge,  to  preach  among  them,  unless  he 
bring  a  letter  of  introduction  from  some  respectable 
character  with  whom  they  are  acquainted.     Such  a  pro- 


*  Or,  an  impostor  may  interline,  if  not  fully  forge  letters; 
and,  by  management,  getting  a  transcription  of  them  certified  as 
such,  by  a  few  respectable,  unsuspicious,  characters — in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  originals — reduced,  perhaps  to  ashes-— \\.  may  be  diffi- 
cult to  detect  the  imposition. 


53 

cedure  would  prevent  much  mischief  and  disgrace,  which 
the  churches  are  otherwise  hable  to  suffer. 
Signed. — Thomas  Baldwin,  Moderator. 
James  M.  WiNCHELL,  Clerk." 

With  this  enlightened  and  venerable  Association,  we 
most  cordially  recommend^  "  That  no  person  who  is  a 
stranger^  be  received  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  who 
has  not  credentials  of  the  most  unequivocal  na- 
ture." And  should  any  person  have  obtruded  him- 
self  upon  one  or  more  of  our  churches,  without  such  cre- 
dentials, we  recommend,  with  equal  cordiality,  that  on 
detection,  he  be  dealt  with  as  our  Discipline  directs.  It 
is  certainly  as  much  our  duty,  and  interest,  to  '''•purge 
out,  when  found  amongst  us,  the  leaven,"  which, 
scripture  and  experience  assure  us,  is  highly  deleterious 
in  its  effects,  as  it  is  to  resist  its  insinuating  influence 
as  it  approaches  us. 

We  are  highly  gratified  in  observing,  that  what  the 
Philadelphia  Baptist  Association  considered  as  beneath 
their  notice,  has  been  very  interestingly  incorporated, 
with  a  variety  of  congenial  matter,  in  "  The  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Magazine,  and  Missionary  In- 
telligencer; published  under  the  direction  of  the 
Baptist  Missionary  Society  in  Massachusetts,"  for  the 
benefit  of  Missions." 

The  extensive  circulation,  and  just  celebrity  of  this 
work,  must  ensure,  with  its  permanency,  and  increase  of 
patronage,  the  efficiency  of  its  valuable  contents. 

"'  Finally  brethren,''''  with  good  will — a  love  of  benevo- 
lence — tovv^ards  all  men — not  excepting  our  enemies, 
if  we  have  any — and  unfeigned  complacency,  in  what 
we  conceive  to   be  vour  moral  excellence,  we  must 


64 

bid  you  an  affectionate  adieu — in  the  confident  hope,  that 
you  will  impartially,  and  correctly  judge  betwixt  us,  and 
those  frona  whose  associated  body  wc  have  withdrawn 
ourselves  from  conscientious  motives,  on  the  grounds, 
we  hope,  clearly,  and  fairly  exhibited  in  the  preceding 
pages.  Our  only  desire  isj  that,  if  you  consider  us  as 
justified  in  the  part  we  have  taken  against  our  opponents, 
and  in  withdrawing  from  an  Association  almost^  wholly 
under  their  influence,  you  may  honour  us  with  your 
friendship  and  correspondence. 

If  to  recriminate  were  as  expedient  as  it  is  just,  we 
might  give  a  lengthy  list  of  "  unwarrantable  steps," 
taken  by  this  body  in  her  conduct  towards  us  ;  but  we 
had  rather  leave  to  others  the  recapitulation  of  our  state- 
ments, and  a  decision,  in  the  light  of  the  testimonies  ad- 
duced, on  the  true  nature  of  the  acts  to  which  we  have 
reference. 

In  fine  :  had  an  unbelieving  Court  of  Judicature  sat, 
in  the  complex  character  of  our  accusers — our  only  ac- 
cusers— and  judges — only  judges — denied  us  the  right 
of  answering  for  ourselves,  as  well  as  of  appealing  from 
their  tribunal — and  condemned  us — without  a  testimo- 
ny— or  a  cause — we  might  ha\e  borne  it :  but  to  be 
treated  so  by  those  with  whom  we  had  taken  sweet 
counsel  and  in  whose  real  prosperity  we  always  rejoice, 
constrains  us  to  look  to  God,  by  his  grace,  and  to  the 
faithful  in  society,  by  their  sympathetic  regards  to  sus- 
tain us. 

*  There  are  several  churches,  ijet,  in  this  body,  who  evidently 
iiegin  lo  stand  aghast  at  her  proceedings.  It  is  quite  a  pheno- 
BiKN'ON,  among  baptists,  to  see  accusers — ivicnesscs — attornies — 
and  judges — in  the  same — the  very  identical  characters — arraign- 
ing— trying — and,  in  a  most  suminary  and  7-a/iid  manner — con- 
DKMNivr,,  a  silevced — unconvicted  Church. 


50 

And,  as  wc  utterly  disclaim  all  caucusing — selfish 
projects — and  competition  with  any  man — or  society — 
on  earth — except  in  doing  good — we  rely,  \vith  the 
greater  confidence,  on  the  support  afforded  by  the 
frank — and,  especially,  the  practical  expression  of  cor- 
rect opinions. 

If,  as  christians,  so  churches,  are  to  exhort  one  ano- 
ther, those  which  stand  fast  in  the  Liberty  wherewith 
Christ  hath  made  us  free,  will  suffer,  from  us,  the  word 
of  exhortation. 

Only  let  your  conversation  be,  "  as  it  becometh  the 
gospel  of  Christ,"  and  our  Zion,  whose  harps  are  now 
on  the  willows,  shall  soon — very  soon — receive  the  gar- 
ment of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness. 

Walk  in  the  Light  of  the  Lord— have  no  fellowship 
with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness — sedulously  guard 
against  deceivers — esteem  spiritual  men — who  labour, 
exclusively,  "  in  word  and  doctrine,"  and  "  watch  for 
your  souls'''' — as  worthy  of  "double  honour" — seek 
the  wisdom  which  is  from  above,  and  is  firsts  pure, 
then,  PEACEABLE — take  Christ — the  Apostles — and 
apostolic  churches — for  your  patterns  and  guides,  in 
doctrine  and  practice — and  you  shall  not  long  be  "  forsa- 
ken" and  "  hated  ;  for  the  Lord  will  make  you  an  eter- 
nal excellency,  the  joy  of  many  generations.'* 

Our  limits  admonish  us  to  conclude: — Brethren  and 
friends,  give  thanks  and  pray  for  us  : — give  thanks  for  our 
regular  growth — by  the  admission  of  worthy  individuals 
to  our  special  privileges — and  for  our  uninterrupted  harmo- 
ny— during  the  last  seven  years.  As  incontestible  evidence 
of  it,  insinuations  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding — our 
communion  seasons,  and  especially  dilate,  have  been  re- 
markably well   attended — and  happy — our  fellowship 


56  -^-^ 

one  with  another  has  increased,  and  abounded — from  ex- 
ternal pressure — and  no  act  of  the  church,  in  our  recol- 
lection— throughout  this  period — called  forth  more  than 
two  or  three  negatives  : — pray  that  we  may  "put  on  the 
whole  armour  of  God,"  and  st^nd-^stand  fast — in  our 
Liberty — and,  that,  having  done  all  we  may  stand  :  that 
we  may  continue  in  peace  among  ourselves ;  and,  "  if 
it  he  possible^  as  much  as  in  us  lieth,  live  peaceably  with 
all  men:"  that  we  may  do  good,  according  to  our  hum- 
ble abilities,  as  we  have  opportunity,  and,  especially  to 
the  household  of  faith  :  that  we  may  never  avenge  our- 
selves, nor  render  railing  for  railing,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
bless  them  that  curse  us,  and  pray  for  them  that  despite- 
fully  use — and  persecute — us:    that    we   may  endure 
hardness,  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ — and,  that  we 
may  never  be  permitted  to  purchase  a  deceitful  peace,  by 
the  sacrifice  of  our  Independence. 
Signed,  in  behalf  oi  the  Church. 
John  M'Leod,  Clerk. 
Joseph  S.  Walter,  Assistant  Clerk, 


ON 


BALDWIN'S  LETTERS. 


BY  JESSE  MILLER. 


>Ien  shall  clap  their  hands  at  hiiH;  and  shall  hiss  him  out  of  his  place.    Job. 


TUILABELPHM  : 

Printed  for  the  author,  by  J.  H.  C'onningtiaiii, 
1819. 


MILLER'S  STRICTURES. 


Sir — Were  I  a  member  of  Sansom-street  Church,  and  had  but 
a  single  fellow  member  to  stand  by  me,  we  should  think  it  a  duty, 
if  we  had  the  ability,  to  address  you  as  follows  : 

BROTHER  LEWIS, 

WE  have  read  your  letters  to  Messrs.  Holcombe, 
Rogers,  and  Dodge,  not  as  critics,  but  as  friends  to  fair 
discussion,  and  in  the  spirit  of  fraternal  love.  In  this 
exercise  of  Christian  patience,  the  precepts,  "  Rebuke 
not  an  Elder,  but  entreat  him  as  a  father,"  "  Be  courte- 
ous," and  "  Study  the  things  which  make  for  peace," 
were  impressed,  with  much  force,  on  our  minds. 

The  First  Church,  in  assigning  her  reasons  for  with- 
drawing from  our  association,  we  must  own,  was  mode- 
rate, and  seemed  to  avoid  every  thing  of  a  personal  na- 
ture, that  she  might  not  provoke  us.  By  her  unequi- 
vocal and  official  voice,  she  cleared  her  pastor  from  the 
imputation  of  being  the  author  of  "  Plain  Truth,"  so 
called  ;  and  had  she  erred,  instead  of  being  governed  by 
verity,  in  vouching  for  the  correctness  of  his  letter  on  the 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  or  in  the  piece  called  "  Mis- 
representations Exposed,"  she  was  certainly  entitled  to 
more  respect  than  is  paid  her  in  your  publication. 

The  manner  and  matter  of  this  piece,  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, it  is  exceptionable,  brother,  in  a  very  high  degree, 
from  its  author. 

We  are  aware  that  old  men  are  not  always  wise,  and 
that  a  young  man  may  be  honourably  distinguished  by 
modesty,  intelligence,  and  stability  ;  but,  unfortunately. 


4. 

your  youth,  brother,  has  not  been  remarkable  for  its  free= 
dom  from,  at  least,  the  appearance  of  pertness,  fickelness, 
irritability,  vanity,  and  intrigue.  You  have,  indeed,  for 
some  years  been  a  professor  of  religion  ;  but,  even  this 
period  of  your  life  has  been  painfully  checkered  by 
contentions  with  your  connexions,  changing  sides,  and 
the  highest  censure  of  one  of  our  churches.  But  though 
we  hope  you  arc  penitent,  as  well  as  restored  to  church- 
privileges,  yet  we  are  sorry  that  the  cause  of  our  beloved 
Pastor  and  the  association,  was  not  placed  in  the  hands 
of  some  other  advocate. 

If  the  publications  of  the  first  church  required  an 
answer,  it  should  have  come  from  an  authorised  agent 
of  the  association.  On  this  point,  among  correct  men, 
there  can  be  but  one  opinion. 

In  debates  betwixt  religious  bodies,  if  any  individual 
may  start  up,  and  reply  to  one  of  the  parties,  though  it 
were  not  by  fiat  contradiction,  and  buffoonery,  there 
could  be  no  end  to  controversy. 

We  lament,  brother,  that  circumstances  connected 
with  this  case  compel  us  to  say,  that  you  appear,  in  the 
light  of  your  letters,  more  like  "  a  busy-body  in  other 
men's  matters,"  than  a  son  of  peace  and  veracity. 

Alas,  brother !  if  we  have  enemies,  they  will  rejoice 
that  you  have  written  this  book.  Who,  or  what,  could 
have  induced  you  so  wofully  to  commit  yourself  and  us  ? 
If  your  performance  was  worthy  of  a  gentleman,  or  even 
of  a  christian,  you  would  gain  little  fame  by  it,  as  you 
are  supposed  to  be  the  mere  amanuensis  of  our  party. 
If  to  do  good  by  this  work,  either  by  informing  the 
judgment,  bettering  the  heart,  or  correcting  the  taste  of 
its  readers  was  your  design,  we  must  own  our  inability 
to  perceive  it.     It  w  ill  be  supposed,  we  fear,  that  as  the 


instrument  of  a  caucus,  you  aimed  in  this  unhappy  afFair, 
at  little  more  than  the  name  of  a  reply  to  the  first  church, 
and  to  swell  your  piece  by  unwieldy  quotations  to  the 
quarter-dollar  size.  But  though  it  lost  nothing  by  passing 
through  the  hands  of  our  learned  Pastor  on  its  way  to 
market,  we  cannot  very  highly  appreciate  its  intrinsic, 
whatever  may  be  its  commercial  value.  Be  assured, 
brother,  nothing  but  the  gravity  of  the  subject  prevents 
a  smile,  on  observing  that  the  copy  right  of  your  letters 
is  secured,  according  to  law  !  We  risk  nothing  in  the 
conjecture,  that  this  portion  of  your  literary  property,  as 
well  as  your  poems,  is  doubly  secure. 

Such  is  its  title,  brother,  that  few  have  breath,  and 
memory  to  enquire  for  it ;  or,  in  a  small  pamphlet 
room  to  insert  it.  For  want  of  a  snug  running  title, 
like,  "  An  answer  to  Misrepresentations  Exposed,"  or, 
*'  The  weasel  in  contact  with  the  file,"  we  should  not 
wonder,  were  you  obliged  to  read  it  yourself  to  non- sub- 
scribers, or  have  it  hawked  through  the  streets.  And,  it 
appears  to  us,  brother,  that  crowded  as  your  title  page 
is,  had  it  the  small-pox,  it  could  never  communicate  in- 
fection to  the  body  of  your  work.  So  far  from  "  deve- 
loping," according  to  promise,  the  points  your  piece  em- 
braces, you  seem  to  have,  intentionally,  enveloped  them 
in  darkness.  When  it  happens  to  be  said  of  a  few  book- 
worms that  they  have  read  all  your  letters,  the  exclama- 
tion, '*  This  is  the  patience  of  the  saints  !"  immediately 
follows.  And  the  complaints  we  have  heard  of  your 
ambiguity,  induces  the  opinion,  that  you  might  find  sale 
foF  a  pamphlet  under  the  title  of  "  An  exposition  of 
Baldwin's  letters."  Or,  a  still  better  plan  of  giving  the 
scintillations  of  your  genius  full  scope,  might ^be  the 
pubhshing  of  an  abridgment  of  your  letters,  as  a  school? 


book,  on  the  unviolated  principles  of  Murray^s  Gram- 
mer,  Duncan's  Logic,  and  Blair's  Lectures  on  Rhetoric. 

But  what  grieves  us  unspeakably  more,  brother,  than 
these  small  blemishes,  like  spots  on  the  sun,  every  thmg 
the  first  church  has  published,  stands  as  firm  as  if  your 
maiden  pen  had  yet  to  spring  from  the  side  of  its  mother 
goose !  We  can  expect  nothing  less,  than  that  public 
opinion  will  say,  your  incoherent,  tedious  letters,  only  ex- 
pose our  painful  embarrassments,  and  your  want  of  taste 
find  talents.  It  is  said,  and  we  must  admit  the  fact,  that* 
instead  of  addressing  the  church  in  question,  as  propriety 
and  decorum  required,  you  address,  as  it  would  seem, 
that  you  might  individualize,  and  abuse  her  Pastor. 

Brother,  you  have,  beyond  a  doubt,  grratly  injured, 
not  this  man  nor  his  charge,  but  yourself  and  us,  by  this 
ill-devised  and  crude  eff'usion.  It  will  now  be  said,  with 
plausibility,  however  untruly,  that  we  are  no  better  than 
our  Second-street  neighbours. 

Rising  superior  to  illiberal  and  puerile  personalities, 
you  should  certainly  have  addressed  the  church,  on  her 
own  ofiicial  publications. 

Most  palpably,  brother,  have  you  insulted  her,  by 
the  unfounded  insinuation,  which  runs  through  all  your 
letters,  that  she  is  wholly  directed  and  controled  by  her 
pastor.  Where  were  your  candour,  ingenuousness,  and 
justice,  when,  in  an  evil  hour  you  committed  this  flsgrant 
and  indelicate  offence  against  her  dignity  and  indepen- 
dence? 

If  such  conduct  as  this  is  countenanced,  it  must  soon 
prostrate  the  barriers  betwixt,  not  onjy  men  and  boys, 
but  individuals  and  societies. 

Not  sanguine  in  expectation  when  we  received  your 
letters,  we  were  less  astonished  tlian  ashamed,  on  findir\g 


7 

that  you  had  anticipated  victory  over  your  late,  and  lately 
admired  Pastor,  by  exhibiting  him  as  the  uncouth  and 
swaggering  Goliath,  and  your  "beloved  self,"  as  the 
renowned  and  amiable  David  !  Allow  us,  brother,  to  say 
you  should  have  achieved,  and  left  it  to  others  to  pro- 
claim this  victory.  Glory  not,  again,  in  what  you  may 
never  realize ;  remember  a  king  of  Israel's  admonition^ 
*'  Let  not  him  that  girdeth  on  his  armour  boast  as  he 
that  putteth  it  off." 

Whether  you  suppose  yourself  to  resemble  the  "man 
after  God's  own  heart,"  as  a  poet,  a  statesman,  or  a  war- 
rior, we  know  not ;  but,  one  thing  we  know,  your  per- 
formance, throughout,  displays  you  in  Saul's  armour, 
slinging,  not  stones  from  the  brook,  but  dirt  from  the 
ditch,  at  the  man  of  straw  you  caricature,  and  call 
Henry  Holcombe. 

Now,  brother,  look  at  that  daubing  attentively,  and 
contrast  it  with  the  likeness,  real  or  pretended,  you  ex- 
hibited of  this  identical  man,  but  a  little  while  before  you 
received  the  illumination  which  drew  you  under  our 
banners. 

We  can  never  forget  the  high  colourings  in  which  you 
painted  him,  on  a  certain  occasion,  at  the  very  door  of 
our  meeting  house.  Forty- nine  years  c*d,  within  one 
week,  when  he  first  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  at  the  time 
of  your  flattering  delineation  of  him,  he  was,  in  your  par- 
tial eyes,  of  a  dignified  appearance,  a  litte  rising  fifty 
years  of  age,  strong  and  active,  of  considerable  eloquence, 
and,  as  a-  gospel  preacher,  second  to  none  in  the  United 
States  !  And  withal,  you  had  the  assurance,  brother,  and 
you  cannot  deny  it,  to  represent  him  as  free  from  defects 
which  you  most  ilhiaturedly  insinuated  were  undeniable 
in  our  revered  Pastor.     But  as  these  sins  were  com- 


8 

mitted  in  the  days  of  your  ignorance,  and  you  have 
atoned  for  them  by  your  present  zeal,  we  freely  forgive 
you,  brother,  and  mention  tliem  merely  to  guard  yon 
ag-ainst  future  inconsistencies. 

o 

But,  though  we  admit  that  Holcombe  is  fair  game, 
and  that  we  must,  according  to  our  solemn  league  and 
covenant,  get  rid  of  him  if  possible,  why  do  you  bring 
Elder  Daniel  Dodge  before  the  public,  as  deficient  in 
Orthography,  degraded  by  lending  his  name,  and  beset 
with  enemies  ?  Suppose  this  able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament,  and  honest  man,  has  not,  like  some  of  us, 
the  advantage  of  a  finished  education,  that  he  did  lend 
his  name,  for  a  stipulated  and  lawful  purpose,  to  a  con- 
fidential friend  or  two,  and  that  he  has  enemies,  you  not 
being  alone  in  attempts  to  disturb  his  peace,  and  injure 
his  good  name  ;  are  these  crimes  ?  These  charges  will 
class  very  well  with  some  you  exhibit  against  Holcombe, 
we  mean  those  of  improperly  placing  the  word  to^  and 
speaking  in  the  first  person  singular,  above  an  hundred 
times,  in  one  of  his  publications.  But,  brother,  you 
may  bring  the  same  or  similar  allegations  against  the 
late  celebrated  John  Newton,  the  eminently  pious  Halli- 
burton, and  a  thousand  others,  of  whom  the  world  was 
not  worthy,  wllh  St.  Paul  at  their  head.  One  of  those 
great  men  would  say,  fearless  of  "egotism,"  "  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  the  gospel,"  while  a  spruce  pragmatical  fop, 
would  fastidiously  fill  half  a  page  in  circumlocution,  ra^ 
ther  than  appear  singly,  in  the  first  person  !  Fy,  fy !  bro- 
ther, such  littlenesses  as  these  remind  us  of  dean  Swift's 
clerk,  if  our  memories  serve  us,  who  sought  fame,  not 
like  you,  by  counting  great  I's,  but  by  turnini;  up,  and 
enumerating,  what  he  called  "  dog's-ears,"  in  the  church 
Bible. 


Your  letters,  we  must  suppose,  are  benevolently  in- 
tended to  lessen,  but  the  probability  is,  they  will  not  a 
little  increase  our  difficulties.  You  have  been  so  be- 
witched as  to  introduce  "  Plain  Truth"  to  public  notice, 
-and  roundly  to  contradict  the  first  church,  by  affirming, 
without  the  shadow  of  proof,  tliat  her  Pastor  is  the  au- 
thor of  it !  But  what  weight  can  your  dogmatical  asser^ 
tion  have  with  a  reflecting, insulted  community? 

How  is  controversy  ever  to  end,  if  the  hundreds  ojf 
respectable  witnesses  you  confront  are  deemed  insuffi- 
cient to  decide  the  point  in  question,  by  their  united, 
solemn,  and  official  attestation  ?  Your  testimony,  with- 
out even  a  pretence  to  die  least  personal  knowledge  of  its 
truth,  to  their's,  borne  in  positive  and  unequivocal  terms, 
is  as  a  mite  thrown  into  a  scale,  opposite  to  one  filled 
with  talents. 

Instead  of  exposing  yourself  to  a  charge  of  falsehood, 
which,  you  may  be  assured  can  be  well  supported,  and 
racking  your  brains,  in  fruitless  endeavours  to  ascertain 
the  author  of  "  Plain  Truth,"  why,  in  the  name  of  com- 
mon sense,  brother,  do  you  not  fall  pell-mell  on  it5 
contents  ? 

You  are  aware  that  even  sons  of  science  say,  that 
piece  discovers  the  hand  of  a  master,  and  contains  names, 
dates,  places,  and  respectable  references,  sufficient  to 
enable  every  curious  reader  to  satisfy  himself,  with  great 
facility,  whether  it  is  true  or  false.  You  have  answered 
this  anonymous  production,  after  unnecesarily  exposing 
it  to  the  public  eye,  substantially  as  Paine  did  the  Bible, 
when  he  called  it  "  a  book  of  lies." 

And  it  mortifies  us  to  perceive  that  you  thus  make 

the  author  of  *'  Plain  Truth"  a  prophet,  as  it  would 

seem,  in  affirming  that  it  would  never  be  replied  to, 

B 


10 

otherwise  than  fey  eondemning  it  in  the  gross.  For  your 
reputation's  sake,  dear  brother,  and  for  the  honour  of  the 
fraternity,  if  you  can  disprove  any  essential  part  of  that 
hated  performance,  do  it ;  but  if  you  cannot,  e'en  let  it 
alone.  Never  again  raise  it  from  merited  oblivion,  as  an 
evil  genius,  to  torment  us. 

In  lieu  of  publishing  the  letters  which  you  say  con- 
tain a  defence  of  our  beloved  Pastor,  against  the  charges 
in  "  Plain  Truth,"  your  readers  are  referred  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Peckworth,  as  their  depository  !  Such,  it  will  be 
said,  is  our  management,  that  all  concerned,  must  come 
from  the  most  distant  regions,  to  this  city,  to  see  our 
Pastor's  defence,  or  take  your  word  as  sufficient  to 
render  this  trouble  unnecessary  !  How  could  you  thus 
presume  on  the  credulity,  and  insult  the  good  sense, 
of  society  ?  If  you  knew  of  any  thing  in  those  letters 
capable  of  defending  our  Pastor  ag-ainst  "  Plain  Truth's" 
main  charge^  which  gulps  all  others,  though  neither  few 
nor  small,  as  the  changed  rod  of  Amram's  son  engulph- 
cd  the  Egyptian  serpents,  why  did  you  not  bring  it  into 
the  light,  in  preference  to  the  trash,  mere  trash,  brother, 
that  fills  your  pages  ?  Readers  of  your  letters  look  foF 
our  accused  Pastor's  defence,  as  sailors  do  for  point  no 
poi.it  in  the  Delaware,  and  say  they  should  be  styled, 
*'  Defence  no  defence.^'' 

And  as  you  neither  proved,  nor  attempted  to  proroe^ 
any  thing  incorrect  in  either  of  the  pamphlets  you  un- 
dertook to  refute,  they  are  entirely  unaffected,  and  even 
established,  by  your  feeble  attacks.  You  merely  pro» 
iiounce  parts  of  them  all  to  be  false;  but,  brother,  ol 
what  weight,  in  disjjuted  points,  is  your  word  ?  Would 
you  think  an  individual  of  even  ten  times  your  respec- 
tability, might  fairly  answer  your  production,  by  calling 
it  a  tissue  of  palpable  falsities  ? 


11 

If  we  can  understand  your  object,  beyond  pecuniar)? 
eonsiderations,  in  this  unlucky  essay,  it  is  not  to  vindicate 
the  conduct  of  the  Association,  nor  that  of  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions ;  but  to  direct  public  attention  from, 
those  bodies,  and  especially  from  the  case  of  our  es- 
teemed Pastor,  to  other  objects.  To  save  the  ship,  an, 
empty  barrel  is  thrown  to  the  whale. 

The  first  church,  Dr.  Rogers,  and  Daniel  Dodge, 
we  acknowledge  were  judiciously  selected,  as  the  sub- 
jects of  a  few  strictures,  that  the  pointedness  of  youc 
op]X)sition  to  Holcombe  might  be  concealed  from  care?, 
less  and  superficial  readers.  This  was  a  plan  that  pro- 
mised you  the  greatest  facilities  in  the  attainment  of 
your  main  object.  But  you  should  have  remembered, 
brother,  that  art  seen  through,  as  this  effort  of  it  must 
be,  seldom  accomplishes  its  purpose. 

And  we  are  sorry  that  you  exposed  your  weakness, 
by  labouring  through  whole  pages  to  prove  what  none 
ever  denied,  or  wished  to  conceal,  that  Drs.  Rogers  and 
Holcombe,  with  others,  formerly  treated  William  Staugh.- 
ton  with  respect,  as  we  did  William  White,  with  whom 
at  present,  we  should  think  it  highly  improper,  and  even 
sinful,  familiarly  to  associate.  Who  does  not  know, 
and  readily  acknowledge,  that  after  forming  an  intimacy 
with  men,  their  subsequent  conduct,  to  say  nothing  o£ 
other  causes,  may  lead,  nay,  necessitate  us  to  treat  them 
as  our  Pastor  is  now  treated  by  his  former  friends  ? 

As  to  those  whose  names  you  display,  to  prove  that 
they  invited  him  to  remain  their  Pastor,  it  must  be 
owned,  that  he  contrived  to  draw  them  into  the  adoption 
ofthisjneasure,  merely  for  the  sake  of  the  document 
you  have  adduced,  without  the  most  distant  thought  of 
declining  his  then  contemplated  enterprise  J  The  intro^ 


12 

duction  of  this  well  recollected  affair,  was  now,  brother, 
premature,  and  should  have  been  reserved  for  the  next 
generation. 

Of  the  same  nature  is  the  hazardous  assertion,  that 
we  were  all  in  peace  prior  to  Holcombe's  arrival. 

Alas !  our  state,  brother,  before  that  event,  was  aw- 
fully the  reverse  of  peace  ;  and  it  is  but  common  can- 
dour to  admit,  that  had  any  other  man  come  at  the  time, 
and  under  the  circumstances  he  did,  without  implicitly 
submitting  to  the  will  of  our  Pastor,  the  same  conse- 
quences which  form  the  subject  of  our  present  complaints 
must  have  ensued.  Your  bare  word  to  the  coiitrary, 
notwithstanding,  we  must  allow  that  the  unknown,  per- 
haps unsuspected  author  of  "  Plain  Truth,"  which  you 
set  us  the  example  of  quoting,  gives  an  accurate  ac- 
count of  the  rise,  and  the  progress,  to  a  very  late  period, 
of  the  controversies  which  have  agitated  us  for  the  last 
seven  years. 

From  the  present  state  of  things,  it  would  not  be- 
come us  to  show,  if  we  felt,  much  respect  for  Drs.  Rogers 
and  Holcombe ;  but  really,  brother,  you  have  so  over- 
acted your  part,  in  caricaturing  these  men,  who  have 
long  been  highly  and  generally  esteemed,  that  you  have 
drawn  on  yourself  much  severity  of  censure  from  many 
who  were  your  best  friends. 

With  respect  to  Dr.  Rogers,  who  does  not  know 
that  he  has  reputably  filled  various  and  important  stations 
in  this  city  for  upwards  of  forty  years  ? 

You  most  unbecomingly  sneer,  brother,  at  his  having 
been  compared  to  Elisha^  "  the  chariot  and  the  horsemen 
of  Israel,"  from  his  well  tried  patriotism,  and  the  zeal 
and  ability  with  which  he  propagates  and  defends  the 
word  of  salvation  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  with  the  most 


13 

evident  self-complacency  you  assume  the  character,  and, 
without  a  blush  on  your  downy  cheeks,  appropriate  to 
yourself  the  na7ne,  of  the  far  more  illustrious  David  ! 
And  how  even  t/ou^  brother,  could  presume  to  say  oj 
a  scholar,  a  gentleman,  and  a  divine,  who  lately  com- 
manded the  suffrages  of  three  thousand  four  hundred  and 
twenty-six  of  his  fellow  citizens,  for  a  seat  which  he 
honourbly  filled,  in  the  Legislature  of  the  commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  that  he  was  "  lost  in  silence,  and  forgot 
except  by  his  vociferations,"  is  scarcely  conceivable  ! 

What  was  pubiickly  said  of  him  in  1816,  and  sanc- 
tioned by  the  large  and  independent  church  of  which  he 
is  a  highly  esteemed  member  and  minister,  is  still  true  : 
*'  He  stands  high,  moves  in  the  first  circles,  in  both  civil 
and  religious  society,  and  his  connexions  are  numerous, 
wealthy,  and  very  respectable.  Besides  his  praise,  '*  until 
of /aife,"  in  all  the  churches,  he  is  much  valued  as  a  cor- 
respondent, and  a  generous  friend  to  Foreign,"  as  well  a^ 
Domestic  "  Missions,  by  many  ministers  of  our  order, 
in  Europe,  Asia,  and  America." 

But  what  is  more  distressing  still,  several  things 
which  you  say  of  Dr.  Rogers,  with  the  obvious  design 
of  separating  '"  verj/  friends ;"  and,  particularly,  what 
relates  to  his  pretended  recommendation  of  Dr.  Staugh- 
ton  to  the  Presidency  of  Brown  University,  he  affirms., 
and  therefore,  as  well  as  from  other  considerations,  we 
believe. are  untrue.  We  regret,  brother,  that  you  ever 
stumbled  over  those  '*  dark  mountams^^'^  into  this  sea  of 
insurmountable  difficulties,  which,  we  fear,  you  will  find 
without  a  bottom  or  a  shore  ! 

Perhaps  you  will  never  be  able  to  obliterate  the  im- 
pressions you  have  made  to  your  disadvantage.  You 
have  told  things  which,  if  true,  never  ought  to  have 


14 

been  told,  by  such  a  pen,  brother,  as  yours ;  nor  under 
the  influence  of  low  and  base  passions ;  and  by  incredi- 
ble assertions,  trifling  charges,  indecorous  comparisons, 
and  malignant  insinuations,  you  have  covered  yourself 
v/ith  the  reverse  of  glory.     Who  cpuld  believe  that  Dr.. 
Holcome,  ever  menacingly  brandished  a  cane  at  any  one, 
in  a  religious  assembly  ?  or  went  stumbling  out  of  a 
pi;  re  of  worship?  or  invited  congregations  to  hear  him 
preach  a  sermon  on  his  persecutions  ?  or  that  he  ever 
said  he  \\  rote  a  protest,   which  he  has  vindicated  with 
firmness  and  peserverance/m  the  moment  of  "  irritation?''^ 
or  that  he  wickedly  denied  being  on  a  committee,  every 
member  of  which  was  present?  or  that  his  letters,  pro- 
nounced to  be  excf  llent,  by  the  late  Dr.  Samuel  Jone^, 
Dr.  Thomas  Baldwin,  and  other  good  judges,   of  both 
^tyle  and  Theology,  are  still  a  burden  on  his  hands  ?  or 
that  he  ever  said,  "  I  um  a  levokitionary  officer?"  was 
ever  the  author  of  an}  thing  to  which  he  was  afraid,  or 
ashamed,  to  put  his  name  ?  or  that  he  evtr  asked  the 
honour  of  your  signature  to  an  instrument  of  writing  ? 
or  that  he  ever  called  himself  "  a  celebrated  writer  ?"  or 
that  a  man  who  has  associated  ever  since  he  was  twenty 
j-ears  of  age  with  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  is  a  rufiian  ? 
We  do  not,  nor  can  you,  brother,   believe  one  of  these 
things.     And  we  are  sorry  to  find,  that  after  raking  the 
states  from  Maine  to  Georgia,  for  matter,  all  with  which 
you  accuse  him,  except  the  authorship  of"  Plain  Truth," 
and  the  denial  of  it,  disproved  by  five  hundred  witnesses, 
is  as  frivolous  as  false.     Am.ong  those  you  have  trump- 
ed up,  some  partly,  and  others  wholly  fabricated,  are  the 
preaching  of  a  great  man  out  of  Savannah ;  occasional 
warmth  of  expression,  elicited  by  studied  provocation  ; 
forgetting  a  name,  or  some  equally  trifling  afiliir ;  re- 


15 

sorting  in  one  instance,  to  a  little  stratagem,  which  re- 
quired no  sacrifice  of  truth  or  justice;  the  use  of  a 
tincture  of  irony  occasionally ;  and  the  remanding  two 
or  three  members  to  their  seats,  in  the  Board  of  Foreisfn 
Missions,  when  he  thought  they  were  not  entitled  to  the 
floor! 

And,  brother,  to  set  even  these  small  matters  in  a 
fair  light,  it  should  be  considered,  that  thc>se  of  them 
which  have  any  foundation  in  truth,  happened  in  the 
heat  of  debate,  when  party  collisions  not  only  threatened 
life,  but  furiously  assailed  character  ! 

The  comparison  on  which  you  have  stumbled,  bro- 
ther, between  the  usefulness  of  Drs.  Rogers  and  Hoi- 
combe,  and  our  Pastor^  is  ineffiibly  repulsive!  What 
must  have  been  his  delicate  feelings,  on  finding  himself 
by  more  than  Goliathanian  strength,  hoisted  into  a  sus- 
pended balance,  against  Drs.  Rogers  and  Holcombe  I 
How  must  his  modesty  have  been  affected,  while,  by 
the  mighty  magic  of  your  quill,  he  found  himself  enga- 
ged aloft,  in  this  species  of  competition  !  But,  seriously 
brother,  who  appointed  you,  "  a  child,''''  as  you  justly 
observe,  a  Judge  of  the  comparative  usefulness  of  min- 
isters? Since,  however,  you  have  been  elevated,  by 
§ome  means,  to  this  highly  responsible  office,  instead  of 
consuming  time  in  counting  great  I's,  it  might  be  bet- 
ter to  get  a  missionary  appointment,  for  the  important 
purpose  of  itinerating  through  Pennsylvania,  New  Jer- 
-^y,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  to  reckon  up,  from 
church  books,  and  other  means  of  information,  the  num- 
bers and  weight  of  the  spiritual  descendants,  and  other 
monuments  of  the  labours  of  these  men,  in  order  to  a 
correct  result  and  estimate,  according  to  your  criterion, 
Qf  their  respective  degrees  of  usefulness. 


-^ 


16 

And  still  more  exceptionably  rude  are  your  i?isi- 
xmations :  you  attempt  by  these  to  make  your  readers 
believe,  that  Holcombe  reduces  the  enlightened  and  dig- 
nified body,  he  justly  deems  it  his  honour  to  serve,  to 
left  hand  cyphers;  that  he  has  either  by  the  direct  or  indi- 
rect exertion  of  nefarious  influence,  drawn  the  high  con- 
stituted authorities  of  the  state  into  the  error  of  impro- 
perly granting  a  charter  of  incorporation,  to  an  African 
Society,  under  the  denomination  of  **  The  first  African 
Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia  ;"  and  that  the  Universi- 
ties of  Rhode  Island  and  South  Carolina,  have  blindly 
bestowed  on  him  unmerited  honours ! 

Now,  brother,  thus  to  arraign  such  bodies  before  the 
^wful  bar  of  the  public,  reflection  must  conviixie  you, 
is  assuming  higher  ground,  and  arrogating  to  yourself 
bolder  pretensions  than  you  could  maintian,  were  your 
beard  equal  to  that  of  the  British  Lion  ! 

But,  last  and  worst  of  all,  though  before  you  became 
the  subject  of  your  present  hoi:)€ful  illuminations,  you 
were  very  far  from  suggesting  a  doubt  of  the  validity 
of  Holcombe's  credentials,  now  he  is  publicly  asked 
by  you,  if  he  has  any,  besides  his  Diplomas?  This 
triumphant  interrogatory  follows  a  pompous  exhibition 
of  our  Pastor's  testimonials  ! 

This  was  reducing  the  subject  of  your  strictures,  it 
must  be  owned,  to  a  painful  dilemma  :  if  silent,  your 
virtual  affirmation,  that  he  has  no  credentials,  besides  his 
Diplomas,  will  assume  the  shape  of  a  fact ;  and  should 
he  produce  any  of  an  honourable  nature,  this  may  be 
imputed  to  ostentation  !  Of  the  two  evils,  he  will  proba- 
bly think  it  the  least,  to  suffer  his  friends  to  lay  before 
the  concerned,  from  among  others,  the  following  instru- 
BTVt^nts : 


17 

South  Carolina,  Pipe  Creek. 
IHiese  are  to  certify  all  gospel  churches,  and  christian  people, 
that  our  Rev.  brother,  Henry  llolcombe,  being  duly  elected  by  the 
church  at  Pipe  Creek,  on  Savannah  river,  holding  believers'  bap- 
tism, particular  election,  and  the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints  in 
grace,  and  he  accepting  their  call  for  ordination,  we,  according  to 
the  primitive  rule,  and  order  of  the  gospel,  have  ordained  him 
to  preach  the  gospel,  and  to  administer  baptism  to  believers,  on 
profession  of  their  faith,  and  also  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  to  perform 
every  other  office  of  the  ministerial  function  :  and  we,  whose  names 
are  under  written,  do  hereby  commend  him  to  God,  and  to  the 
word  of  his  grace,  and  to  all  churches  of  the  same  faith  and  order 
with  us,  as  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ :  to  which  we 
Jiave  hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  this  eleventh  day  of  Septem- 
ber, one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty -five. 
1785.  Signed, 

JAMES  SMART,  Minister. 

THOMAS  BURTON,  Minister, 

The  'Savannah  Baptist  Church,  in  Georgia,  in  conference  con- 
vened, on  the  9th  day  of  August,  1811,  to  her  sister,  the  first  Bap- 
tist Church  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  send  greeting. 

Dearly  beloved  in  the  Lord, 

Our  dearly  beloved  brother,  Henry  Holcombe,  our  late  vener<i,» 
ble  and  highly  esteemed  Pastor,  having  applied  for  his  dismission 
from  us  to  your  enlightened  body,  he  having  received  your  call  to 
become  your  Pastor,  which  he  inclines  to  believe,  and  we  sincerely 
hope,  is  the  call  of  God  ;  we  cheerfully  resign  him  to  you,  by  the 
will  of  God.  We  want  words  to  express  his  worth.  As  a  Chris- 
tian, he  is  meek  and  humble,  benevolent  and  humane,  fervent  ia 
prayer,  aiming  singly  at  the  glory  of  God,  and  ever  promoting  the 
interest  of  true  and  undefiled  religion.  As  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, faithful  in  watching  over  the  flock  of  Christ,  patient  in  tribula- 
tion, holy  in  conversation,  easy  of  access,  willing  to  communicate, 
zealous  for  the  truths  of  God,  exhorting,  admonishing,  and  rebu- 
king, with  all  authority.  He  most  earnestly  contends  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints  :  he  is  ardent  in  study,  unwearied  in 
diligence,  and  greatly  beloved  by  us,  and  in  all  places  where  h^ 
has  preached  the  word,  which  have  been  majiv,  and  never  in  vaift* 

c 


18 

In  tVieiidsliip  he  is  warmly  attaclieJ,  and  ever  ready  to  put  the 
most  favourable  construction  on  the  words  and  actions  of  even  hi* 
enemies. 

God  has  bestowed  on  him  a  great  mind,  and  possessed  him  of 
many  and  singular  talents,  gifts,  and  graces,  and  every  way  quali- 
fied him  for  great  purposes  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 

But  we  are  not  able  to  describe  the  excellencies  that  combine 
to  form  his  most  valuable,  rare,  and  singular  character.  We  have 
the  most  abundant  reasons  to  bless  and  thank  God  for  his  work  and 
labours  of  love  among  us  for  the  last  twelve  years ;  and  may  God 
bless  him  to  you,  as  he  has  blessed  him  to  us.  May  his  health  be 
preserved,  and  your  affections  be  ever  increasing,  and  mutual.  We 
do  most  heartily  bid  him  God  speed.    Brethren,  fare  you  well. 

Your's  ever,  in  gospel  bonds. 

Signed, 

Bv  order,  and  in  behalf  ^  JOHN  SHICK,  Deacon. 


1  behalf  I 
Church.  5 


of  the  whole  Church.  5  ELIAS  ROBERT,  Clerk. 

Now,  brother,  if  such  testimonials  as  these  should 
appear,  among  the  archives  of  the  first  church,  to  have 
been  brought  by  Dr.  Holcombe  fi'om  Savannah  ;  and  es- 
pecially if  it  should  appear,  that  he  has,  so  far,  answered 
the  expectation  they  excited,  what  are  you  and  the  pub- 
lic to  think  of  your  insinuation,  that  he  had  no  creden- 
tials besides  his  Diplomas  ? 

In  addition  to  the  above,  allow  us  to  present  you 
with  a  few  lines  from  Dr.  J.  E.  White,  of  Savannah,  the 
pleasing  and  instructive  author  of  *'  Letters  on  England, 
in  two  volumes,"  to  a  gentleman  of  this  city.  *'  I  now 
address  you  principally  with  the  view  of  introducing  to 
your  acquaintance  the  Rev.  Dr.  Holcombe,  who  is  about 
to  settle  in  your  city,  and  to  which  he  will  be  a  valuable 
acquisition. 

''  The  character  of  this  gentleman  is  so  well  estab- 


19 

lished  as  to  need  no  recommendations  of  mine  ;  and.  the 
valuable  qualities  of  his  head  and  heart  will  always  com- 
mand him  respect  and  esteem. 

"  For  every  attention  which  it  may  be  convenient  to 
olFer,  Dr.  H.  will  not  be  less  obliged  than  myself,  and  I 
trust  you  will  not  find  him  among  the  least  valuable  of 
your  acquaintance." 

We  are  sorry  to  find,  brother,  that  you  have  intima- 
ted, that  Dr.  Holcombe  had  no  encouragement  to  return 
to  Savannah,  in  IS  16,  though  the  first  church  officially 
expressed  a  very  different  opinion.  On  this  subject,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Screvtn,  writes  to  him,  thus:  "My  brother, 
being  diffident  of  my  abilities,  I  am  induced  to  shrink 
from  the  important  station  that  I  now  occupy.  Permit 
me  to  lay  before  you  a  few  of  those  reasons  which  may  be 
advanced,  as  inducements  for  your  return  to  this  city 
and  church.  Here  your  past  services  have  endeared  you 
to  a  number  of  citizens  ;  here  you  would  behold  those 
spiritual  children  the  Lord  has  given  you  ;  here  you 
could  return,  after  a  long  absence,  as  Paul  did  to  Corinth, 
to  heal  the  disorders  'that  have  crept  in  during  your  ab- 
sence ;  and  here,  I  feel  justified  in  saying,  your  domestic 
happiness  would  be  advanced,  and  your  usefulness 
greater,  generally,  in  this  countri/y  than  where  you  now 
live. 

"  Say  not  you  will  injure  the  first  church  in  Phila= 
delphia :  will  you  not  leave  with  them  a  Dr.  Rogers  ? 
say  not  it  will  be  interfering  with  the  work  assigned  to 
me  ;  is  there  not  a  large  extent  of  country  destitute,  from 
Savannah  to  the  Euhaw  V 

After  this  wealthy  and  excellent  man,  disposed  to  re- 
tire, with  an  amiable  consort,  to  their  fine  country-seat, 
had  held  out  generous  proposals,  on  the  subject  of  salary, 


20 

he  concludes :  "  Upon  a  review  of  the  whole  matter, 
will  you,  my  brother,  authorize  my  declining  the  pasto- 
ral charge  of  the  Savannah  church,  in  your  favour  ?" 

Now,  brother,  can  you  really  believe,  that  such  a 
man  as  Mr.  Screven,  would  have  written  to  his  friend, 
as  he  did,  without  a  due  regard  to  the  sentiments,  and 
wishes,  of  the  citizens  and  church  his  liberal  epistle  em- 
braces ?  Or  can  you  for  one  moment  believe,  that  if  Hol- 
combe  were  the  odious  Philistine  you  represent  him  to 
be,  that  the  first  church,  supposing  he  might  return  to 
Savannah,  could  have  addressed  him  as  she  did,  in  the 
following  terms  ? 

"  We  feel  pleasure  in  bearing  our  united  testimony 
in  relation  to  }  our  labours  among  us.  In  your  ministry, 
we  have  heard  the  great  truths  of  the  word  t)f  God  preach- 
ed, as  we  believe,  in  their  primitive  purity,  and  defend- 
ed with  that  honesty  and  determined  resolution,  which 
satisfy  our  minds  that  you  were  sent  here  as  a  "  defence 
of  the  gospel." 

"  We  have,  by  means  of  your  labours,  had  those 
truths  so  clearly  elucidated,  that  we  can,  with  humble 
confidence,  say,  we  have  grown  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Through  your 
instrumentality,  Ave  have  seen  *'  rough  places  made 
smooth,  and  crooked  places  straight ;"  saints  have  been 
established,  sinners  converted,  and  mourners  in  Zion 
comforted.  While  our  prayer  to  God  is,  that  he  may 
say  to  the  flood  of  errors  that  aboimd,  "  hitherto  shalt 
thou  come,  but  no  further ;  and  here  shall  thy  proud 
waves  be  stayed  :"  we  believe  that  in  the  accomplishment 
t)f  such  events,  he  ordinarily  uses  as  instruments,  those 
whom  he  has  *'  counted  fiuthful,  and  put  into  the  minis- 
try :"  and  as  we  conceive  that  peculiar  gifts  are  designed 


21' 

by  the  great  Head  of  the  church,  to  fill  correspondent  sta- 
tions, we  confidently  believe  that  your's  are  specially 
adapted  to  the  station  you  now  fill. 

"  We  conclude  with  the  assurance,  that  should  it 
consist  with  the  unerring  counsel  of  the  glorious  head  of 
the  church,  and  your  own  views  and  feelings,  it  is  our 
sincere  and  earnest  desire  that  you  continue  your  labours 
among  us,  as  our  Pastor. 

*'  May  you  be  enabled  to  continue  to  "  watch  in  all 
things,  endure  afflictions,  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist, 
make  full  proof  of  your  ministry,"  that  wlien  the  time  of 
your  departure  is  at  hand,  you  may  be  enabled,  with  our 
apostle,  to  exclaim,  "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have 
finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith.  Henceforth 
\there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which 
the  Lord,  -the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that 
day." 

This  address  from  the  first  church  to  her  Pastor,  was 
dated  the  13th  of  June,  1816,  and  by  order,  and  in  behalf 
of,  the  whole  church.  Signed^  Joseph  Keen,  Levi  Garrett, 
Wm.  Duncan,  John  M'Leod,  Hugh  Gourley,  Jared 
Sexton,  Joseph  Moulder. 

Such,  besides  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  and  the 
Doctorate,  at  which  you  learnedly  sneer,  are  Holcombe's 
credentials.  And  never,  as  we  have  good  reason  to  be- 
live,  having  been  the  subject  of  a  military,  civil,  or  ec- 
clesiastical censure,  he  will  probably  continue,  as  he  has 
hitherto  proved,  unaffected  by  the  systematic  attacks 
even  of  our  fraternity. 

Permit  us  to  remark  in  passing,  that  you  are  the  less 
excusable  in  overlooking  the  last,  though  not  the  least 
lionorable,  of  his  testimonials,  from  having  seen  it  more 
at  large,  in  a  neat  volume  lately  published  by  John  Biq- 


22 

ren  of  this  city,  as  the  last  production  of  the  pious  and 
elegant  pen  to  which  the  religious  public  are  indebted 
for  "  Moulder'' s  Essat/s."^ 

On  merely  turning  the  leaves  of  your  performance, 
it  is  obvious  that  you  have  been  guided,  with  servility, 
by  the  plan,  and  constantly  represented  Ho'combe  as  the 
author  of  *'  Plain  Truth."  And  at  the  late  Association, 
several  of  our  friends  eyed  him  askaunt,  and  gnashed 
their  teeth  ;  and  while  one  by  allusion  called  him  an 
assassin,  another  "  grinned  horribly,"  in  his  face  !  A 
third  reported  that  a  Rev.  Gentleman,  not  of  our  order, 
said  that  to  liim  Holcombe  had  confessed  himself  the 
author  of  "  Plain  Truth  ;"  but,  on  a  fair  investigation,  this 
was  found,  and  acknowledged,  to  be  false.  And  though 
the  whole  strength  and  credit  of  your  letters  depend  on  the 
question  you  begged,  that  he  is ;  after  all,  the  united  in- 
formation, arts,  and  energies  of  our  party  can  ntv^r  prove 
this  to  be  a  Jact. 

Havir)g  thus  built  on  the  sand,  your  whole  super- 
structure tumbles,  with  a  tremendous  crash,  into  rums  ! 
And,  to  prevent  even  gulls  from  being  bewildered  by 
the  deception  you  attempt  to  practise  on  them,  in  this 
affair,  we  will  set  it  in  as  clear  and  strong  a  light  as  pos- 
sible. Come  now,  what  will  you  risk  besides  bare 
words,  with  many  light  as  thin  air,  that  Holcombe  is  the 
author  of  '*  Plain  Truth  ?"  It  is  said  a  poor  man  lost 
his  horse,  and  while  a  mob  was  assuring  him  that  their 
sorrow  on  the  occasion  was  very  great,  a  practical  Phi- 
lantro[)hist,  stepping  to  the  sufferer,  said  my  sorrow  for 
your  loss  is  equal  to  owly  five  dollars,  receive  this  small 
sum,  and  look  to  your  more  sympathetic  friends  for  cor- 
respondent additions  to  it.  Suffer  us,  brother,  to  bring 
your  confidence,  that  Holcombe  is  the  author  of  this 


piece,  to  a-  similar  test.  Will  you  agree  to  be  confined 
one  year  in  our  Penitentiary,  or  to  give  a  libel  in  due 
form  of  law,  Provided,  you  do  not  prove,  that  he  is 
its  author?  No,  brother,  neither  you,  nor  any  other 
individual  of  our  party,  will  do  it ;  nor,  on  the  same 
ground,  risk  one  hundred  dollars :  so  that  we  are  all 
thrown,  as  sailors  would  say,  completely  on  our  "  beam- 
ends  P^ 

We  ishall  have  to  look  out  for  another,  we  mean  the 
r<?ff/ author,  of  this  book,  and  collect  our  learned  friends 
to  write  a  long  apologetical  epistle  to  Dr.  Holcombe,  for 
making  him,  through  mistake,  the  object  of  our  libellous 
and  unfounded  aspersions  \  And  while  our  hands  are  in, 
our  bows  drawn,  from  "  thought's  full  bent  and  energy," 
it  might  be  well  to  write  and  publish  a  volume,  against 
the  infamous  man,  if  we  can  ascertain  him,  who  has, 
against  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  our  beloved 
Pastor,  in  particular,  exhibited yc/^(?  charges.  Ah  !  this 
is  the  rub !  Would  the  charges  contained  in  the  pam- 
phlet called  "  Plain  Truth,"  were  false  ! 

We  have  not  said,  nor,  dearly  beloved  brother,  will 
prudence  in  our  humble  opinion  permit  us  to  say  to  the 
public,  that  either  of  the  charges  in  that  piece,  reduced 
to  a  simple  proposition,  is  untrue.  So  that  were  we  ac- 
cording to  our  prayer,  to  find  its  author,  as  the  fabled 
farmer  did  the  lion,  who  had  plundered  him  of  his  heifer, 
like  him  we  should,  perhaps,  be  alarmed  at  the  terrific 
discovery. 

We  only  wish  you  had  been  asleep,  rather  than 
lugging  "  Plain  Truth"  from  the  verge  of  the  oblivious 
pool,  before  the  public  eye.  You  have  "  erred,  and  gone 
astray,"  brother,  like  "a  lost  sheep!"  Or,  rather,  you 
feavc  suffered  the  iniquities  of  our  party  to  be  packed  on 


24 

your  head,  that,  as  their  *'  scape  goat,''''  they  might  let 
you  take  your  chance  in  the  wilderness  of  your,  and  their 
motley  epistles.  O  that  you  had  never,  to  change  our  si- 
mile once  more,  suiFered  yourself  to  be  made  the  tool  of 
a  party,  to  abuse  men  who  had  done  you  no  harm ;  for 
following,  as  well  probably  as  they  could,  in  bad  com- 
pany, the  dictates  of  their  consciences  !  VVe  are  greatly 
grieved,  brother,  to  find  that  you  have  ever  said,  con- 
trary to  well  known  truth,  that  the  first  church  at  the 
late  Association,  refused  and  fled  from  offered  specifica- 
tions of  her  alleged  transgressions!  You,  hundreds,  even 
all  present  on  that  occasion,  know  that  her  delegates  soli- 
cited, and  proceeded  on  being  refused,  to  demand,  if  it 
were  but  a  single  specification,  either  in  writing  or  ver- 
bally ;  but  could  not  obtain  it !  And  knowing  with 
whom  she  had  to  deal,  her  delegates,  through  their  chair- 
man, repeatedly  called  on  all  present  to  witness  this  fla- 
grant instance  of  unfairness,  and  i#justice.  Brother, 
your  letters  must  convince  every  intelligent  and  upright 
reader  that  our  cause  is  desperate.  It  were  endless  to 
particularize  all  your  palpable  misstatements:  such  as, be- 
sides those  already  noticed,  afiirming  that  the  association 
did  not  speak  of  the  first  church,  as  arraigned  at  their 
bar  for  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  &c. 

Our  strictures  may  seem  severe  ;  but  your  own  con- 
science must  testify,  if  unseared,  that  they  are  just,  and 
we  pray  that  they  may  prove  salutary. 

JESSE  MILLER. 

O;;^'  The  Baldmn,  whose  letters  have  received  the  forej^oing  strictures,  is 
not,  according  to  the  impression  of  some,  tlic  Rev.  De.  Baluwix,  of  Boston, 
but  a  }ouiig  schoohnaster  of  PliilaUclpbia,  son-in-law  to  the  Rev  John  P. 
/Peckvvoj-th.  J.  M. 


A    REPLY 


TO  THK 


Rev.  Messrs.  THOMAS  ROBERTS  and  WILLIAM 
E.  ASHTON, 

AS  MODERATOR  AND  CLERK  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA 
BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION,  FOR  1819, 

BY  HEJ^RV  HOLCOMBE, 

amanuensis  to  friends  of  truth. 

Gentlemen, 

YOUR  corresponding  letter  we  consider  as  inscribed 
to  us ;  and  we  shall  endeavour  to  answer  it,  by  an  address 
to  you  in  your  official  capacities.  After  the  composer  of 
this  production  it  is  not  our  business  to  enquire  :  as  you 
have  adopted  it,  you  must  admit  that  you  are  responsible 
for  its  contents :  and  however  inaccurate  or  uncourtly  any 
of  these  may  appear,  it  is  our  intention  to  approach  you 
with  the  deference  due  to  the  pupils  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Staugh- 
ton,  and  the  superior  years  of  those  who  usually  occupy 
your  seats. 

This  letter,  it  wolild  seem,  you  regard  as  of  more  than 
ordinary  importance  :  it  circulates  unconnected,  as  well  as 
united  in  the  common  way,  with  your  minutes. 

We  are  aware  that  the  dispute  into  which  you  have  en- 
tered, as  chiefs,  is  unpleasant ;  but  in  boldly  contradicting 
anumber  of  men,  who,  you  allow,  are  as  respectable  as  your- 
selves, you  compel  us  to  investigate  the  points  at  issue. 

Your  epistle  is  addressed  to  a  number  of  associations,  as 
well  as  to  the  individual  friends  of  truth  throughout  your 
union:  and  as  the  destruction  of  Dr.  Holcombe  is  the  only 
perceptible  object  of  it,  probably  it  will  be  said,  that,  like 
the  first  king  of  Israel,  your  great  body  "  Is  come  out  to 
seek  a  flea,  as  when  one  doth  hunt  a  partridge  in  the  moun- 
tains." 1  Samuel,  xxvi.  20. 

From  your  superscription,  you  proceed,  with  evident 
avidity,  and  say,  "  It  is  well  known  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, that  at  the  last  session  of  our  body  the  first  Baptist 
church  of  t*hiladelphia  was  excluded  from  our  communi- 
ty."    Yet,  contrarv  to  the  advice  and  remonstrances  of 

1 


Bdme  of  your  most  intelligent  and  discreet  members,  you 
determined  to  reiterate  this  important  information  !  To 
Festus  it  seemed  "  unreasonable  to  send  a  prisoner,"  to 
Rome,  "  and  not  withal  to  signify  the  crimes  laid  against 
him  :"  Acts  xxv.  27  :  but  you,  in  your  superior  wisdom, 
thought  fit  publicly  to  announce  the  exclusion  of  a  church 
from  your  community  ;  and,  a  twelvemonth  afterwards,  to 
repeat  the  intelligence.  And  still  we  find  nothing,  specifi- 
cally, laid  to  her  charge. 

Your  language,  in  this  epistle,  if  we  can  understand  it, 
is  similar  to  the  Macedonian  cry,  Acts,  xvi.  9,  "  Come 
over  and  help  us:"  though  directed  to  a  very  different  ob- 
ject. Tens  of  thousands  in  various,  and  many  of  them  in 
tlie  remotest,  parts  of  the  United  States,  are  called  on  to 
help  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  association  to  crush  Dr.  Hol- 
combe !  Whether  they  will  enter,  for  this  generous  pur- 
pose, into  the  alliance  you  virtually  propose,  or  throw  your 
epistle  under  their  tables,  time  will  inform  us. 

After  all,  this  repeatedly  announced  exclusion  is  found 
to  be  a  hoax  !  you  know,  and  cannot  deny,  that  before  the 
motion  for  her  exclusion  from  your  body  was  even  made, 
she  had  publicly,  formally,  and  constitutionally,  withdrawn 
from  it.  Instead,  therefore,  of  affirming,  as  they  do,  "  This 
association  are  constrained  to  say,  they  cannot  continue," 
they  should  have  said,  cannot  prevail  with  her  to  remain, 
*'  any  longer  a  member  of  this  body." 

You  must  admit,  that  you  have  no  right  to  detain  a 
church,  contrary  to  her  will,  in  your  connexion,  for  one 
minute ;  or,  you  must  claim  the  right  to  keep  her  here  du- 
ring your  pleasure  :  if  you  claim  this  right,  and  have  pow- 
er to  exercise  it,  what  becomes  of  the  independence  of  your 
churches?  but,  if  you  do  not,  what  will  be  thought  of  your 
reiterated  declaration,  that  you  have  excluded  a  previously 
withdrawn  church  from  your  community  !  It  is  not  pre- 
tended that  she  owed  you  any  thing,  and  as  you  publicly 
acknowledge,  and  cannot  deny,  her  independence,  we  should 
be  glad  to  know  by  what  authority,  human  or  divine,  or  by 
what  ancient  or  modern  precedent,  you  have  attempted  to 
fix  an  indelible  stigma  on  her  character. 

Leaving  the  public  to  judge  for  themselves  in  this  cas^, 


we  proceed  to  the  more  important  enquiry,  for  what  del  in 
quency  in  doctrine,  or  practice,  has  this  church  become  the 
subject  of  your  vague  and  undefinable  aspersions  ?  Your 
letter,  it  is  fair  to  conclude,  gives  the  best  answer  you  could 
furnish  to  this  question  :  and  what  is  it  ?  Why  that  she 
cast  reflections  on  certain  adventurers  amongst  the  Baptists, 
who  had  corrupted  the  churches  under  their  ministry  :  and, 
after  all,  surprising  as  it  may  appear,  those  offensive  reflec- 
tions were  not  made  by  the  church,  but  by  her  pastor,  in 
his  individual  capacity.  See  "  Misrepresentations  Expos- 
ed," p.  20.  This  is  certainly  a  most  egregious  blunder ! 
And,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  piece  just  mentioned,  her  pastor 
said  no  more,  in  substance,  on  the  delicate  subject  of  dis- 
orderly ministers,  than  has  recently  been  published  by  the 
Hartford,  and  adopted,  and  reiterated,  by"  the  Boston  Bap- 
tist association. 

But,  in  searching  for  something  to  criminate  this  church, 
is  it  not  strange  that  you  did  not  find,  in  her  protest,  and 
adduce  the  following  strong  assertion  ?  "If  there  are  not 
persons  in  this" — meaning  your — "  body  under  excom- 
munication, and  in  very  dishonourable  connexions,  we  des- 
pair of  ever  substantiating  any  fact  in  the  whole  current  of 
events."  And  as  she  challenged  a  denial  of  these  gross  dis- 
orders in  your  community,  is  it  not  truly  wonderful,  that, 
passing  this  explicit  and  weighty  sentence,  you  should  se- 
lect a  few  general  remarks,  by  an  individual,  and  applica- 
ble to  the  guilty,  alone,  as  the  sole  ground  of  her  crimina- 
tion ? 

Here  your  correspondents  will  pause,  and  find  no  difii- 
culty  in  decyphering  your  conduct. 

As  if  conscious,  after  all,  that  your  chosen  ground  of 
censuring  this  church  was  untenable,  you  proceed,  and  say, 
"  Had  none  of  the  foregoing  criminations  against  this  body 
been  published,  the  disorderly  conduct  of  her  delegation 
was  sufllicient  ground  of  expulsion."  What !  of  immediate 
expulsion  ?  expulsion  without  honouring  the  church  with 
a  hearing  ?  How  could  you  know,  or  even  imagine,  tliat 
she  would  not,  on  conviction  that  any  of  her  delegates  had 
acted  improperly,  suitably  deal  with  the  offenders?  The 
custom  of  Baptist  associations  has  srenerally  been  to  visit  ?.. 


backsliding  church,  by  a  committee,  that  they  might,  if 
possible,  in  this  way,  restore  her  to  rectitude :  but  the  aiFair 
in  hand  was  a  wide  deviation  from  that  fraternal  procedure. 
So  far  was  this  church  from  being  honoured  with  a  visit  by 
a  committee,  that  she  never  had  one  by  an  individual,  nor 
even  a  letter  of  remonstrance,  at  any  stage  of  her  alleged  de- 
parture from  correctness ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  in  your 
minutes  of  1817,  was  abruptly  charged  with  disorder,  com- 
bined with  "  palpable  misrepresentations,"  and  threatened 
with  exclusion  from  your  body,  if  she  did  not  "  retread  her 
unwarrantable  steps." 

In  what  even  one  of  those  misrepresentations,  or  false 
steps,  consisted,  you  have  never  had  the  candour  to  inform 
us. 

But,  as  we  have  seen  your  inability  to  exhibit  any  spe- 
cific charge  against  the  church,  we  shall  enquire  into  the 
grounds  of  your  displeasure  with  her  delegation  :  and  this 
enquiry  is  reduced  to  much  simplicity,  from  the  curious 
circumstance,  that  no  act  of  disorder  is  charged  on  anymem- 
ber  of  this  body,  with  the  single  exception  of  their  chair- 
man. Out  of  the  twenty  names  comprised  in  it,  his  is  the 
only  one  brought  fully  into  view.  An  effort  seems  to  have 
been  made  to  give  us  the  name  of  Dr.  Rogers ;  but,  from 
an  error  in  orthography,  it  proved  abortive. 

The  other  eighteen  names  over  which  you  threw  the 
mantle  of  darkness,  shall  be  brought  to  light  in  the  sequel. 
No  other  expedient  is  necessary  to  render  the  cause  of  their 
concealment  obvious  to  all  your  readers  :  and  your  policy 
will  be  considered,  by  many,  as  equally  sound,  in  sending 
numerous  copies  of  your  letter  abroad,  without  some  names 
on  your  minutes.  Singular  as  the  case  may  be,  it  is  never- 
theless a  fact,  that  in  attempting  to  "  assert  the  honour  and 
purity  of  the  Christian  character,"  by  an  exposure  of  the 
crimes  of  this  church,  without  even  charging  her  with  an 
instance  of  misconduct,  your  thunders  fall,  exclusively  on 
her  delegates  ;  and  more  astonishing  still,  innocently  rolling 
over  nineteen  of  their  heads,  burst  on  their  proscribed  chair- 


man 


But  let  us  hear  what  weighty  allegations  are  advanced  to 
justify  this   unrelenting  severity  towards  an  individual- 


What  has  he  done  so  to  criminate  a  whole  church  as  to 
render  it  necessary  for  your  body  to  exclude  her,  on  his 
account,  from  the  Christian  world  ?  In  consequence  of  ex- 
pulsion from  your  community,  you  say,  this  church  stands 
alone  :  but,  why  these  great  swelling  words  ?  It  is,  indeed, 
her  honour  and  happiness  to  be  unconnected  with  your 
body,  in  its  present  state  :  but  she  has  the  pleasure  to  con- 
sider herself  as  in  harmony  with  all  other  religious  socie- 
ties, to  as  great  a  degree,  as  she  ever  was  while  in  your 
community. 

But,  we  repeat  the  question,  what  has  her  pastor  done  to 
draw  on  her  your  anathemas  ?  Unfortunately,  we  think,  for 
your  cause,  your  letter  answers  it :  and,  for  the  first  time, 
in  the  present  controversy,  you  have  ventured  on  a  few 
specifications. 

This  is  as  it  should  be :  they  shall  receive  attention. 
Specification  first : 

**  Dr.  Holcombe  rose,"  it  is  admitted  at  the  proper  time, 
"  and  moved  that  a  written  specification  of  charges  against 
the  church  should  be  given  them,  which  was  seconded  by 
one  of  his  own  (the  church's)  delegation."  In  this  leading 
charge,  we  see  no  harm  at  all.  There  was  certainly  nothing 
unreasonable,  much  less  censurable,  in  this  motion,  what- 
ever there  might  be  in  the  clamorous  opposition  which,  it 
is  well  recollected,  was  made  to  it. 

Specification  second:  "  Another  motion  was  made," 
though  we  are  not  told  it  was  seconded,  "  for  the  postpone- 
ment of  the  first  motion,  to  make  way  for  another  by  way 
of  explanation.  To  this  Dr.  Holcombe  vehemently  object- 
ed, alleging  that  the  proceedings  were  arbitrary,  out  of  order, 
and  that  he  was  refused  to  l?e  heard,  until  a  member  of  his 
own  delegation"  (one  of  his  colleagues)  "  acquainted  with 
parliamentary  proceedings,  arose,  and  affirmed  that  a  motion 
for  postponement  was  always  in  order ;  and  the  motion 
was  carried  without  further  opposition." 

Now  we  should  be  glad  to  know  what  guilt  these  charges, 
of  zeal  in  a  cause  supposed  to  be  good,  and  of  alleged,  not 
proved,  ignorance  of  parliamentary  proceedings,  can  fasten 
on  the  accused,  or  what  additional  honour  they  can  reflect 
on  his  courteous  accusers.     The  public  would,  of  course,,^ 


suppose  that  students  from  your  school  are  familiar  with 
parliamentary  etiquette ;  and  could  think  it  no  sin  for  a 
plain  republican,  even  in  the  face  of  parliamentary  authori- 
ty, to  pppose  a  motion  for  postponement,  itself,  under  the 
impression  that  the  real  object  of  it  was  not  "  explanation," 
but  the  gaining  of  time  to  form  a  caucus,  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  truth  and  order  :  so  that  unless  you  prove  he  was 
under  no  such  impression,  this  charge  also,  falls,  harmless, 
to  the  ground. 

Specification  third:  "Dr.  Holcombe  in  a  vociferous 
manner  broke  in  upon  the  order  of  the  house,  and  loudly 
demanded  a  written  specification."  It  is  true,  that,  after 
soliciting,  in  vain,  he  did  demand,  as  the  right  of  the  ac- 
cused church,  a  written,  or  verbal,  specification  of  her  al- 
leged crimes ;  but,  as  you,  and  many  others  can  testify, 
could  not  obtain  it.  The  truth  is,  you  had  none  to  give, 
as  evidently  appears  from  your  having  given  none  in  your 
present  letter.  Under  this  embarrassed  circumstance,  all 
that  your  body  could  do,  to  evade  an  immediate  suspicion, 
that  she  had  exhibited  groundless  charges  against  this 
church,  was  to  throw  the  whole  assembly  into  confusion, 
and  terminate,  as  she  quickly  did,  all  discussion. 

It  is,  however,  not  true  that  Dr.  Holcombe  spoke  louder 
than  he  usually  does,  in  reproving  what  he  conceives  to  be 
vice,  and  endeavouring  to  defend  truth,  and  gospel  order, 
against  their  daringassailants.  The  key  on  which  he  common- 
ly speaks,  and  that  on  which  he  spoke,  by  permission,  at  your 
bar,  was  the  conversation-key,  which,  every  one  knows,  in 
its  loftiest  tones,  is  essentially  different  from  vociferation  : 
nor  did  he  break  in,  as  you  inaccurately  state,  upon  the 
order  of  the  house  ;  for,  as  is  well  known,  at  the  time  re- 
ferred to,  it  had  no  order  to  violate. 

Specijication  fourth^  and  last :  "  When  the  Dr.  found  he 
could  not  bear  down  the  whole  association,  he  added  threats 
to  his  demands — accused  them"  (as  you  observed  in  your 
second  specification)  "  with  refusal  to  hear  him — and  de- 
nounced his  future  vengeance  in  an  appeal  to  the  public," 
(a  very  hasty  one)  "  through  the  medium  of  the  press.  He 
then  called  his  delegation"  (his  colleagues)  "  to  follow  him 
out  of  the  house,  assuring  the  body  that  he  would  give  therti 


7 

work  enough,  in  white- washing  the  characters  of  its  mem- 
bers ;  and  then  rushed  out  of  the  house  in  great  disorder, 
followed  by  most  of  his  colleagues." 

Here  we  see  the  dregs  of  the  cup  of  wrath,  administered, 
you  say,  by  twenty- five  churches,  to  Dr.  Holcombe  :  but, 
after  the  clamour  with  which  he  has  been  hotly  pursued, 
for  years,  the  public  may  deem  it  strange,  that  in  all  this 
HUE-AND-CRY,  he  is  charged  with  no  vicious  act :  but  con- 
demned, and  cast  out  of  your  community  for  words,  and 
words  used  in  the  heat  of  debate,  and  not  with  a  greater 
freedom  than  is  customary,  and  allowable,  in  all  well-regu- 
lated deliberative  bodies.  These  words,  uttered  more  loud- 
ly, and,  you  signify,  more  rapidly,  than  your  rules  of  elocu- 
tion approve,  are  displayed,  by  the  justice  of  twenty-five 
churches,  as  his  highest  crimes,  and  misdemeanors ! 

And,  though  they  had  sufficient  grounds  to  believe,  that 
he  makes  no  pretence  to  the  graces  derived  from  dancing- 
masters,  they  could  not  suflfer  his  gaif  to  escape  their  repre- 
hension. He  was  not  only  '*  vociferous,"  say  all  your 
churches,  but  "  rushed  out  of  the  house." 

Now,  gentlemen,  please  to  review,  with  us,  this  verbose 
specification,  clause  by  clause :  and,  without  dividing  re- 
sponsibility for  it,  with  your  hundred  colleagues,  consider 
how  you  can  answer,  to  your  own  consciences,  for  its  con- 
tents. 

Of  the  insinuation  as  unfounded  as  incredible,  that  Dr. 
Holcombe  attempted  to  "  bear  down  the  whole  association, 
we  shall  take  no  particular  notice  :  to  mention,  is  sufficient 
to  refute  it :  it  is  evidently  hyperbolical,  and  used  merely 
to  excite  attention  to  what  follows.  You  say,  ^^  he  added 
threats  to  his  demands.'*''  The  demands  referred  to,  you 
will  allow,  amount  to  but  one^  which  had  for  its  object  a 
specification  of  the  huge  aggregate  of  crimes  alleged  against 
the  church  of  whose  delegation  he  happened  to  be  chair- 
man :  and  from  this  circumstance,  the  duty  of  making  that 
reasonable  demand  devolved  on  him,  and  not,  immediately, 
on  either  of  his  colleagues. 

To  demands,  you  simply  say^  and  we  take  the  liberty 
simply  to  deny,  that,  "  he  added  threats''' 

Your  body  next,  but,  as  noticed  above,  not  for  the  first 


8 

time,  urge,  *'  He  accused  them  of  refusal  to  hear  him.'^^  One 
thing  in  this  case  is  clear :  he  must  have  been  under  the 
impression  that  you  refused  to  hear  him,  or  he  never  could 
have  uttered  such  an  accusation  before  hundreds  of  wit- 
nesses ready  to  attest  the  innocence  of  the  accused,  and 
that  to  him  due  attention  was  paid,  as  the  chairman  of  a 
respectable  delegation  from  the  first  Baptist  church  in  Phi- 
ladelphia. But  were  we  to  fancy,  what  we  cannot  admit, 
that  he  received  this  attention,  his  remark,  that  you  refused 
to  hear  him,  by  whatever  mistake,  or  motive,  elicited,  sure- 
ly would  have  been  adequately  punished  by  a  reproof  from 
the  Rev.  moderator,  without  moulding  it,  a  twelve-month 
afterwards,  into  the  awful  shape  of  an  associational  charge. 
But  this,  however  high,  is  not  the  highest  of  his  unpardona- 
ble crimes  :  "  He  denounced j''''  say  five  and  twenty  churches, 
**  his  future  vengeance^  in  an  appeal  to  the  public  ^  through 
the  medium  of  the  press.''''  You  mean,  we  must  suppose, 
contrary  to  what  you  express,  not  that  he  did  this^  but  threat- 
ened to  do  ity  through  this  medium. 

Some,  through  ignorance,  or  inadvertence,  use  words 
which  express  confusedly,  and  more  or  less  than  their 
meaning  :  but  learned  men,  like  you,  in  a  formal  commu- 
nication to  the  public,  are  expected,  with  reason,  to  con- 
vey their  sense  with  perspicuity  and  precision.  Dr.  Hol- 
combe,  you  inform  us,  ^'denounced  his  ve?7geance :^^  but 
on  so  solemn  a  charge  as  this,  you  certainly  should  have 
told  us,  who,  or  what,  was  the  subject  of  this  terrible  de- 
nunciation. Did  he  threaten  any  person,  or  some  work  of 
darkness  ?  Did  his  threatening  apply,  as,  it  is  presumed, 
you  would  have  us  to  conclude,  to  your  body,  or  merely 
to  those  in  it,  who  might  be  found  under  the  guilt  of  cor- 
rupt and  abominable  deeds  ?  You  leave  us  in  uncertainty 
with  respect  to  all  these  important  particulars  :  and  in  the 
same  state,  as  to  the  matter  of  his  denunciation.  You  con- 
descend to  tell  us,  plainly,  that  he  poured,  ?neaning,  that  he 
threatened  to  pour,  his  denounced  vengeance,  through  the 
medium  of  the  press  :  but  whether  in  showers,  or  torrents, 
t)f  bodily  or  mental,  temporal  or  eternal,  plagues,  is  left  to 
conjecture.  On  one  more  point,  we  must  allow,  you  are 
perfectly  explicit :  it  is  in  ascribing  vengeance  to  Dr.  Hoi- 


cembe  f  This  ascription  by  scholars,  and  divines,  educated 
in  the  theological  school  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  is  of 
an  astonishing  nature.     **  Vengeance  is  mine,  "  saith  Jeho- 
vah, Rom.  xii.  19 ;  and,  we  should  suppose,  exclusively  : 
but  you,  with  your  twenty-five  churches,  speak  of  Dr.  Hol- 
combe^s  vengeance  :  and  even  of  his  *^  future  vengeance  /" 
This  must  be  either  irony,  or  blasphemy  ;  charity  compels 
us  to  suppose,  that  you  speak  thus  ironically,  to  hold  up 
his  imbecility  as  an  object  of  ridicule  ;  but  does  not  this 
most  favourable  construction  that  your  words  will  admit, 
militate  against  your  own  magnanimity,  in  selecting  a  man 
you  represent  as  a  candidate  for  the  accommodations  of  a 
madhouse,  as  the  solitary  object  of  your  high  associational 
resentments?  But  permit  us  respectfully  to  remind  you  that 
the  entire  substance  of  the  clause  in  question,  reduced  to 
sobriety  and  truth,  is  merely  this :  on  finding  that  your  body 
would  not  endure  representations  which  he  deemed  correct, 
and  important.  Dr.  Holcombe  said,  that  what  then  could 
not  be  heard,  might  be  circulated  through  the  medium  of 
the  press  :  so  that  the  truth,  which  he  signified,  in  depen- 
dance  on  divine  aid,  he  would  disseminate,  is  what  they 
were  pleased  to  nick-name  ^w  ^^vengeance.^^     Truth,  to 
be  sure,  is  very  formidable,  and  terrifying,  to  its  foes :  it 
is  by  no  means  unnatural  for  it  to  assume,  in  the  eyes  of 
guilt,  the  aspect  of  vengeance.     Some  fear  nothing  more 
than  truth  and  justice. 

Contending,  at  such  fearful  odds,  it  was  certainly  time  for 
Dr.  Holcombe  to  retreat  from  the  effective  voUies  of  a  corps 
of  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninty-four  veterans  :  or, 
in  evangelical  language,  twenty-five  churches,  all  "  sound 
in  the  faith  and  pious,"  embracing  this  large  number  of 
of  members  :  accordingly,  you  inform  us,  "  He  called  his 
delegation  to  follow  him  out  of  the  house.^^  Here  you  are 
pleased  to  represent  a  delegation  from  a  public  body,  as  be- 
longing to  Dr.  Holcombe,  who,  you  insinuate,  called  them 
authoritatively,  to  follow  him  out  of  the  house.  But,  on  the 
supposition  that  your  statement  is  correct,  without  admit- 
ting it  to  be  so,  we  may  decorously  ask,  why  was  not  he  left 
to  answer  for  this  alleged  breach  of  politeness,  to  his  col- 
legues,  or  to  the  church  they  represented,  without  the  conde- 

2 


10 

scending  interference  of  your  dig'nified  body  ?  Surely  your 
grounds  of  criminating  him  must  have  been  slender,  or  you 
never  could  have  gravely  incorporated  so  trivial  a  circum- 
stance as  this,  with  your  official  communications  to  the  re- 
ligious  public  ! 

On  commencing  his  retrograde  movement,  it  would 
seem,  "  He  assured  the  body  that  he  would  give  them 
work  enough^  in  white  washing  the  characters  of  its  mem- 
ber s^ 

We  here  beg  leave  to  ask  a  few  questions,  for  informa- 
tion. Do  you  mean  in  this,  rather  ambiguous,  clause,  to 
distinguish  between  your  body,  and  its  members  ?  If  so, 
you  may  suppose  that  Dr.  Holcombe  meant  to  say,  he 
would  give  your  body  work  enough  in  white- washing  suc- 
cessively its  individual  members  :  but  how  do  you  under- 
stand that  he  intended  to  give  you  this  job?  Was  it  by  dis- 
closing, or  by  creating,  defilements  in  your  borders,  that 
he  intended  to  engage  you  in  this  business?  After  all,  per- 
haps your  meaning  is,  though  you  have  not  expressed  it, 
that  he  gave  you  an  assurance  of  enough  to  bear,  under  the 
operation  of  a  white- washing  by  his  own  hands.  Your  words, 
however,  indicate,  that  your  body  was  to  be  active,  not  pas- 
sive, in  this  ceremony.  He  was  to  give  it,  not  something 
to  bear,  but  something  to  do  :  work,  was  to  be  laid  out  for 
you  :  which  was  to  consist  in  white-washing  your  charac- 
ters :  but  whether  some,  or  all  of  your  members,  were  to 
be  the  subjects  of  this  purgation,  is  not,  by  us,  ascertaina- 
ble. Should  your  letter,  from  possessing  at  least,  the  merit 
of  originality,  be  republished,  we  hope  you  will  not  suffer 
much  learning  to  prevent  you  from  favouring  us  with  a 
species  of  composition  adapted  to  ordinary  capacities.  But 
believing  your  confusion  to  arise  from  erroneous  concep- 
tions of  the  words  to  which  you  allude,  we  shall  state  them, 
though  at  the  expense  of  a  short  digression,  for  your  infor- 
mation :  Dr.  Holcombe  had  been  accused,  you  must  re- 
collect, with  being  the  author  of  "  Plain  Truth,"  and  as 
your  learned  Preceptor  was  charged  in  this  piece,  with  sev 
eral  dilinquencies,  an  attempt,  it  was  reported,  would  be 
made  by  your  body  to  vindicate  his  character :  and  with  re- 
ference to  this  arduous  undertaking,  Dr.  Holcombe,  afterre- 


n 

rainding  you  of  your  late  zeal,  in  supporting,  as  long  as  you 
could,  William  White,  said  "We  understand  you  have  a  job 
of  white- washing  in  hand,  and  we'll  retire  and  give  you  room 
to  go  about  it."  These  were  his  very  words  ;  and  we 
assure  you  that  he  neither  said,  nor  insinuated,  any  thing 
more  on  the  subject.  But  to  return  :  it  was  on  his  retreat, 
and  immediately  after  uttering  that  grrissly  perverted  sen- 
tence, that,  as  you  assure  us,  "  He  rushed  out  of  the  house, 
in  great  disorder  ^  followed  by  most  of  his  colleagues  ^  This 
vague,  this  undefined,  and  unmeaning,  allegation,  reminds 
us  of  a  very  similar  passage,  in  the  words  "  Great  is  Diana 
of  the  Ephesians.^^  Acts.  xix.  34.  That  stigma  laid  in  one 
scale  of  a  balance,  and  this  encomium  in  the  other,  could 
produce  no  effect,  we  think,  on  the  equilibrium  of  its  beam. 

But,  gentlemen,  if  strangers  to  the  parties  engaged  in  the 
present  controversy,  were  to  believe,  for  the  want  of  better 
information,  that  you  have  correctly  stated  the  manner  of 
Dr.  Holcombe's  departure  from  your  presence,  what  can 
we  suppose  would  be  their  ideas  of  it?  Surely,  that  he  moved 
with  violence  through  the  crowded  house,  pushing  down, 
and  throwing  aside,  all  who  had  the  misfortune  to  be  in  his 
way,  and  was  followed  by  rather  more  than  half  his  col- 
leagues, who  had  to  trample  in  their  egress,  on  sprawling, 
scrambling,  members  of  your  out-raged  bod}  ! 

Judge  df  their  surprise  when  they  come,  as  they  may,  to 
receive  our  solemn  assurance,  that  Dr.  Holcombe,  on  the 
occasion  referred  to,  uttered  no  threat,  denounced  no  ven- 
geance, spoke  of  white- washing  no  character,  was  in  no  dis- 
order, but,  after  bidding  you  all  farewell,  walked,  with 
decorum,  out  of  the  house,  and  was  followed  by  all  his  col- 
leagues, except  one,  who  remained,  for  ought  we  know,  to 
take  minutes  of  your  succeeding  deliberations. 

It  would  not  become  us,  as  we  have  no  apology  to  make 
for  Dr.  Holcombe's  conduct  towards  your  body,  to  recri- 
minate ;  and  especially  as  we  are  acting  merely  on  the  de- 
fensive :  besides,  we  "  have  not  yet,  resisted  unto  blood, 
striving  against  sin."   Heb.  xii.  4. 

Under  other  circuanstances,  it  might  be  proper  for  us  to 
say,  that  Dr.  Holcombe  received  treatment  in  the  presence, 
and  by  several  of  the  members  of  your  body,  not  easily  dis- 


12 

tinguished  from  barbarism  :  but  we  shall  pass  from  your 
specifications,  to  incomparably  the  most  important  part  of 
your  corresponding  letter  :  a  part,  we  fear,  which  fairly  ex- 
hibits your  method  of  conducting  church-business,  and  se- 
veral of  your  principles  :  it  follows  :  "  It  were  to  be  sup- 
posed, without  any  investigation  of  the  subject,  that  the  re- 
ligious public  will  have  no  hesitation  in  determining  who 
are  in  the  right,  when  it  is  considered  that  on  the  one  side 
there  is  but  a  single  church,  however  respectable  she  may 
have  been,  and  on  the  other,  no  less  than  twenty-five 
churches,  as  respectable  for  their  piety  and  soundness  in  the 
faith,  as  she,  who,  after  allowing  her  two  years  to  reconsi- 
der, united  in  the  act  of  excluding  her  from  their  body." 

On  this  master-key^  as  we  consider  it,  to  your  cabinet- 
council,  we  shall  make  several  remarks,  with  the  view  of 
showing  its  fallacies,  and  inacpuracies. 

You  must  perceive,  at  once,  that  the  unblushing  author 
of  this  paragraph,  begs  the  question  at  issue  !  Whether 
your  body,  or  this  church,  be  right,  in  the  present  contro- 
versy, is  the  question :  and  he,  with  a  brazen  front,  says, 
**  It  were  to  be  supposed,  without  any  investigation  of  the 
subject,"  that  your  body  is  right ! 

Now  whatever  may  be  your  number,  the  public  will  be 
inclined  to  think,  a  consciousness  that  you  have  truth  on 
your  side,  would  lead  you  to  invite,  rather  than  repress,  in- 
vestigation. Controversies  have  not  unfrequently  been 
found  to  eventuate  much  to  the  honour  of  a  few  opposed  to 
large  numbers.  Men  of  the  greatest  excellence,  you  will 
grant,  have  been  cast  out  of  churches  :  these  bodies,  even 
for  fidelity  to  their  divine  Master,  have  been  separated  from 
hierarchies :  Luther  and  his  colleagues,  who  dared  to  in- 
vestigate, were  covered  with  the  opprobrium,  and  excluded 
from  the  community,  of  millions :  Christianity  was  once 
oppressed  by  the  superior  numbers  of  Judaism  :  the  Jews, 
for  centuries  before,  were  over-borne  by  "  tiuenty-Jive^'' 
times  their  number  of  Pagans  :  Caleb  and  Joshua  were  op- 
posed by  thousands  :  Lot  by  whole  cities :  and  Noah,  by 
a  world. 

Besides,  how  are  your  readers  to  know,  otherwise  than 
by  exparti)  testimony,  that  you  have  correctly  stated  the 


disparity  of  numbers  betwixt  yourselves  and  your  oppo- 
nents? The  public  may  know  little,  or  nothing  of  you, 
gentlemen  ;  yet,  after  all  the  splendor  of  evidence  you  affect 
to  adduce,  it  is  completely  shrouded  in,  permit  us  to  say, 
two,  comparatively y  obscure  signatures  !  And  on  this 
ground  you  suppose  the  religious  public  will  believe  you 
right,  and,  of  course,  your  opponents  wrong,  "  without  in- 
vestigation  /" 

Your  error,  it  appears  to  us,  is  equally  palpable,  in  the 
assumption,  that  the  testimonies  of  all  composing  churches, 
are  alike  entitled  to  confidence.  On  no  other  supposition, 
can  the  public  pronounce  you  right,  in  a  controversy,  mere- 
ly because  you  out-number  your  opponents. 

According  to  our  Lord's  perfect  rule,  Matt,  xviii.  16, 
"  In  the  mouth  of  two  or  tliree  witnesses,  every  word  may 
be  established  :"  and,  you  will  agree  with  us,  that  nothing, 
by  any  testimony,  can  be  more  than  established. 

It  is  most  assuredly  the  credibility  of  witnesses,  and  not 
their  number,  which  establishes  facts.  We  think,  even  you 
will  allow,  that  in  every  place  where  the  parties  here  con- 
cerned are  known,  the  church  would  be  as  readily  believed 
as  the  association :  and  her  twenty  delegates,  probably, 
would  be  considered,  in  the  city  and  county  of  Philadel- 
phia, as  fully  equal,  in  the  article  of  credibility,  to  your 
whole  assembly.  We  will  venture  further,  and  respectfully 
offer  for  consideration,  whether  two  or  three  might  not  be 
selected  from  this  delegation  whose  testimonies  could  not 
be  shaken,  in  any  part  of  the  United  States,  by  the  entire 
authority  of  this  corresponding  letter,  honoured  as  it  is  with 
both  your  signatures'.  But  we  proceed  to  notice  one  of  your 
theological  sentiments  : 

Can  you  be  aware  of  the  compliment  you  pay  yourselves, 
in  professing  to  be  as  respectable  for  piety,  and  soundness 
in  the  faith,  as  a  church  you  have  disowned,  as  having,  hi 
your  judgment,  persisted,  most  obstinately  in  sin,  for  "  txvo 
years  .^"  The  friends  of  truth  must  perceive,  that  you  sup- 
pose piety  to  consist  with  habitual  immorality  !  What  is 
this,  they  will  naturally  exclaim,  but  an  open  declaration, 
that  they  are  Antinomians  ! 

Through  the  aid  of  your  key,  we  have  seen  you,  not  at- 


14 

tempting  to  prove ^  but  begging  the  question  at  issue  ;  pre* 
suniiiig  the  public  would  determine,  without  investigation^ 
that  you  are  right,  on  the  ground  of  your  numbers  ;  repre- 
senting all  the  testimonies  of  the  parties  concerned,  as  equal; 
signifying,  by  fair  implication,  that  soundness  in  the  faith 
and  piety,  may  be  in  a  church  deserving  expulsion  from  re- 
ligious society,  for  obstinately  pursuing  an  "  unwarrantable 
course ;"  and  we  shall  now  prove,  that  you  are  flagrantly 
inaccurate,  even  in  your  numerical  statements  ! 

You  boast  of  twenty-five,  while  your  own  minutes 
show,  that  you  have  but  twenty -three  churches  !    A  suffi- 
cient proof,  that  you  did  not  anticipate  investigation.     In 
consistency  Avith  this  radical  error,  you  represent  the  dispro- 
portion betwixt  yourselves  and  your  opponents,  as  one  to 
TWENTY-FIVE  :  but  had  you  come  nearer  the  truth,  and 
said  one  to  twenty,  as  thrte  of  those  were  absent,  it  would 
have  been  still,  ^.  fallacious  statement.      What  is  the  fact  ? 
Your  opponents  are,  in  number,  upwards  of  Jive  hundred, 
and  you  under  three  thousand ;  so  that  instead  of  a  twenty- 
fifth,  they  are  more  than  a  sixth  of  your  number  !    You 
erroneously  say,  your  twenty-five  churches  which  uni- 
ted in  excluding  one,  from  their  community,  were  repre- 
sented by  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  delegates  :  but  what 
will  be  thought  of  your  democracy,  and  boasted  equality  of 
representation,  by  those  who  may  observe,  on  the  face  of 
your  minutes,  that  more  than  half  this  number  were  from 
four  churches,    under  the  immediate  eye  and  control  of 
your  RULING  ELDER?  lu  matters  of  a  speculative  nature, 
art  and  ingenuity  may  pass  error  for  truth,  without  much 
danger  of  detection  :  but  where  numbers  are  concerned,  in- 
accuracies are  easily  exposed,  in  the  light  of  demonstration. 
It  may,  therefore,  well  excite  surprise,  that  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Slack,  Montanye,  and  Matthias,  to  \vhom  }  our  adopted 
letter  is  ascribed,  did  not  render  it  consistent,  at  least,  with 
your  minutes. 

But,  to  be  ingenuous,  we  blame  neither  them,  you,  nor 
one  of  your  churches,  for  any  thing,  except  implicit  obedi- 
ence to  a  fallible  Ji aster.  Sincerely  do  ue  hope,  for  the 
lionour  of  your  churches,  that  the  adoption  of  this  corres- 
ponding letter,  and  the  sending  of  it,  without  your  minutes, 
into  the  world,  were,  in  no  small  degree,  clandestvic  acts. 


Certainly  such  a  letter  as  this  could  not  have  been  recei- 
ved, but  at  a  late  hour  of  your  session,  after  many  of  the 
delegates  had  withdrawn ;  nor  can  we  believe  that  a  num- 
ber of  its  copies  could  have  found  their  way  into  market^ 
otherwise  than  by  the  unauthorized  agency  of  a  few  catch- 
penny characters.  It  would  be,  in  our  imperfect  judgment, 
but  common  justice  to  keep  such  men  from  all  the  future 
sessions  of  your  dishonored  body  :  and  should  the  churches 
resume,  and  exercise  their  scriptural  authority,  some  of 
their  unfaithful  servants  would  tremble. 

Thus  terminating  the  view  we  have  taken  of  the  vital 
parts  of  your  ej)istle,  we  shall  just  glance  at  a  few  minor 
mis-statements  which  have  escaped  your  vigilance. 

You  say  that  when  Di*.  Staughton  was  called  on  to 
preach  a  certain  missionary  sermon,  Dr.  Holcombe  refused 
his  pulpit  for  that  purpose. 

The  truth  is.  Dr.  Holcombe  said,  "  Dr.  Staughton  shall 
not  enter  this  pulpit,  if  I  can  prevent  it,  until  certain  points 
betwixt  ourselves  receive  satisfactory  explanations. 

The  refusal  of  the  pulpit  was  thus  qualified,  and  not  ab- 
solute, as  you  incautiously  state. 

And  you  seem  surprized  that  Dr.  Holcombe  should  have 
known  more  of  Dr.  Staughton  at  your  session  in  1816,  than 
was  known  a  twelve- month  before  !  The  whole  truth  is 
this  :  from  arrangements  made  at  the  preceding  semi-annual 
meeting  of  that  society,  and  from  credible  information.  Dr. 
Holcombe  believed,  that  it  was  the  intention  of  Dr.  Staugh- 
ton, if  he  could  get  into  the  pulpit,  to  call  on  Mr.  White 
to  deliver  the  discourse.  The  explanations  which  Dr.  Hol- 
combe required,  relative  to  this  arrangement,  as  well  as 
some  other  matters,  might  have  been  made  in  a  few  mi- 
nutes, but  they  were  pertinaciously  withheld :  the  pulpit 
was  refused  as  the  consequence.  And  considering  the  aw- 
ful state  of  Mr.  White,  which  events  have  proved,  was  on 
the  very  borders  of  universal  notoriety,  what  honest  man 
can  blame  Dr.  Holcombe  for  this  precautionary  measure  ? 

The  next  error  we  shall  notice,  is  that  of  the  assurance 
your  letter  gives,  that  Mr.  White's  name  was  not  mentioned 
at  your  turbulent  session  of  1816  ! 

Tills,  considering  the  numbers  who  know  it  to  be  untrue. 


16 

perfectly  astounds  us.  Surely,  gentlemen,  your  powers  of 
recollection  must  have  entirely  lost  their  tenacity !  We 
assure  you,  from  the  testimony,  of  our  own  ears,  that  his 
name,  odious  as  it  had  become,  except  in  your  body,  was 
repeatedly  mentioned,  on  that  occasion:  suffice  it  to  say,  it 
is  in  our  perfect  recollection,  that  it  was  mentioned  by  dea- 
con Corfield,  and  by  Dr.  Holcombe :  and  hundreds,  wc 
are  fully  persuaded,  cannot  have  forgotten  that  he  was  often 
alluded  to,  as  the  member  last  on  the  floor,  and  as  the  brother 
on  the  right,  or  left,  of  speakers.  He  was  lionoured  with 
the  whisperings  too,  and  in  some  instances  by  suggestions 
from  the  pencils,  of  your  colleagues.  In  a  word,  he  was 
made,  by  the  active  zeal  of  his  coadjutors,  the  most  prom- 
inent character  on  the  floor  !  But,  your  apology  is  your 
avowed  ignorance,  at  that  time,  of  his  character  ;  and  you 
blame  his  opponents  for  not  giving  you  a  few  enlightening 
hints  of  his  turpitude. 

Your  readers,  at  a  distance,  are  made  to  believe,  that  the 
church  under  your  displeasure,  found  out,  by  some  unac- 
countable means,  that  the  Rev.  William  White  was  not 
immaculate  :  and,  from  inscrutable  motives,  kept  this  im- 
portant secret  from  your  body,  as  well  as  from  the  church 
of  which  he  was  pastor  !  So  far,  however,  is  this  from  the 
truth,  that  her  deacons  were  duly  informed,  probably  with- 
out 7ieedmg  information,  of  his  intrigues,  which,  in  fact, 
were  well  known,  and  frequently  spoken  of,  with  abhor- 
rence, in  civil  society. 

But,  as  most,  if  not  all,  the  other  errors  contained  in  your 
epistle  are  refuted,  by  anticipation,  in  "  Misrepresentations 
Exposed,"  and  "  Miller's  Strictures" — we  shall  hasten  to 
the  concluding^  which  may  not  be  found  the  least  interest- 
ing part  of  our  respectful  address. 

We  shall  here  present  you  with  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Hol- 
combe, which,  by  mistake,  we  suppose,  you  impute  to  the 
censured  church,  and  consider  as  *'«  cruel  libel  on  your 
body  :"  alluding  to  disorderly  adventurers  amongst  the 
American  Baptists,  he  says,  "  Under  their  ministry  con- 
formity to  the  world  is  almost  complete  ;  the  doctrines  of 
sovereign  grace  which  distinguish  our  excellent  confession 
of  faith,  are  seldom  or  never  heard  ;  the  door  of  admission 


17 

to  our  tables  is  widened  beyond  all  scriptural  bounds  ;  dis- 
cipline, if  it  exist,  is  extremely  lax ;  and  the  standard  of 
morals  is  reduced  to  invisibility." 

Your  remarks  on  these  allegations,  are,  "  These  direful 
eiFects,  this  awful  falling  off  of  our  churches,  is  ascribedj 
to  adventurers  received  amongst  them,  who,  by  good  words 
and  fair  speeches  deceive  the  hearts  of  the  simple."  You 
add,  "  the  association  looked  round  in  vain  for  churches  of 
the  above  description  wuthin  their  bounds  ;  and  cannot  but 
view  the  foregoing  charges  as  a  cruel  libel  on  them." 

These  observations  were  made,  you  will  recollect,  at  the 
session  of  your  body,  in  1816,  and  though  then  refused  a 
hearing,  soon  afterwards  received  publicity.  Now  if  they 
cannot  be  justified,  by  subsequent  events,  it  is  admitted, 
Dr.  Holcombe  should  bear  the  blame  due  to  the  author  of 
a  "  cruellibeV  In  his  defence,  however,  we  shall  appeal 
to  stubborn  facts :  in  consequence  of  a  new  ministry  in  one 
of  your  churches,  in  the  ensuing  year,  as  your  minutes  of 
1817  show,  she  excommunicated  thirty  three  of  her  mem- 
ber s>  Your  minutes  of  1818,  ^y\\)}q\1  forty  three,  who  were 
made,  by  your  churches,  in  the  preceding  associational 
year,  the  subjects  of  excommunication.  Your  minutes  of 
1819,  add  thirty-four,  to  this  list  of  delinquents,  whocon= 
stitute  an  aggregate  of  one  hundred  and  ten  practical  wit< 
nesses,  to  prove,  that  in  1816,  suspicions  of  disorder  in 
your  churches,  were  not  altogether  without  grounds. 

With  the  various  transgressions  which  led  to  the  expul- 
sion of  those  offenders,  from  your  community,  we  have 
neither  time,  nor  inclination,  to  blur  our  pages :  but  ne- 
cessity compels  us,  in  a  few  cases,  to  notice  individuals  ; 
and,  should  it  give  pain,  our  opponents  may  thank  them- 
selves for  it.  The  measures  of  defence  to  which  we  have 
resorted,  might  have  been  anticipated. 

We  begin  with  one  of  your  most  popular  ministers,  and 
shall  give  his  character,  drawn  in  your  minutes  of  1817,  as 
follows : 

"  The  committee  appointed  in  the  case  of  William  White,  late  pas- 
"  tor  of  the  second  Baptist  church  in  Philadelphia,  who  is  excluded 
"  from  said  church,  for  contempt  of  the  church,  and  for  refusing  to 
**  meet  certain  charges  brought  against  him,  reported,  that  thev  havp 

S 


18 

"  reason  to  believe  that  said  Wm.  White  is  continuing  a  career  of 
"  UNPARALLELED  immorality,  which  renders  it  the  duty  of  the  asso- 
"  ciation  to  caution  the  churches  and  the  public  against  encouraging 
"  Iiim.  It  is  alleged,  on  good  authority,  that  said  Wm.  White  is 
"  travelling  with  a  woman  whom  he  calls  his  wife,  while  his  wife  and 
"  family  are  now  in  Philailelphia." 

But,  whether  his  career  of  immorality  were,  indeed, 
UNPARALLELED,  wc  sliall  bc  better  able  to  judge  at  a 
more  advanced  stage  of  the  present  investigation.  One 
thing  is  certain  :  if  half  you  allege  against  him  be  true,  he 
was  a  grand  impostor ;  and  this  undeniable  fact,  considered 
in  connexion  with  the  number  of  his  satellites,  goes  far  to- 
wards justifying  the  aforesaid  "  charges.''^ 

Samuel  Johnson,  another  of  your  delegates,  in  1816,  is 
entitled  to  a  place  in  this  catalogue.  He  occasionally  ex- 
ercised his  gifts,  in  church  meetings  :  but,  from  a  defi- 
ciency of  talent,  as  a  speaker,  never  met  with  any  particular 
encouragement :  besides,  his  appearance  was  much  against 
him,  as  acandidate  forthe  office  of  a  public  teacher,  Wehap- 
pened  to  be  present,  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  he  was  call- 
ed, as  a  witness,  into  a  court  of  judicature :  but  such  were  his 
drowsy  and  squalid  countenance,  and  personal  filthiness, 
that  the  honourable  gentlemen  who  sat  on  the  bench,  with- 
out hearing  a  word  he  had  to  say,  ordered  him  out  of  their 
presence.  He  was,  however,  some  time  afterwards,  deem- 
ed qualified  to  sit,  as  a  judge,  in  your  advisory  council,  on 
the  case  of  the  first  Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia  ! 

His  name,  we  observe,  stands  on  your  minutes  of  1818, 
as  one  of  your  delegates  :  but,  some  time  since,  he  was 
thrown  over  the  walls  of  one  of  your  churches,  for  habitual 
intoxication  ;  and,  being  embarrassed  in  civil  affairs,  eloped 
from  the  city.  These  tacts  are  of  such  notoriety  as  to  ad- 
mit of  no  denial. 

Samuel  Carlisle's  is  the  only  other  case,  of  this  nature, 
to  which  we  shall  call  your  attention.  According  to  a  rule 
which  is  sa?ictioned  by  your  bod}',  this  man  was  received 
as  a  member  of  one  of  your  churches,  by  a  relation  of  his  ex- 
perience ! 

This  event  took  place /?nor  to  your  session  in  1816,  but 
some  time  since,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  be  arraigned  be- 
fore John  ShaxVy  Esquire,  of  the  Northern  Liberties :  and 


19 

by  verbal  communications,  of  undoubted  credibility,  we 
learn  that,  on  being  reproached,  before  this  worthy  magis- 
trate, with  having  left  a  wife  in  Virginia,  though  lie  had 
married  another  woman  in  this  city,  he  did  not  deny  it ; 
and,  to  the  charge  of  having  stolen  a  horse  and  saddle, 
worth  two  hundred  dollars,  he  was  constrained,  from  the 
testimony  produced  to  establish  the  fact,  to  plead  guilty  ! 
After  a  legal  settlement  of  his  affairs  was  effected,  he  re- 
luctantly yielded  to  the  necessity  of  returning  to  his  lawful 
wife. 

Now,  gentlemen,  when  such  characters  as  those,  with 
their  numerous  supporters,  were  crouding  to  your  tables, 
to  profane  the  Lord's  Supper,  who  can  think  it  was  li- 
bellous in  the  pastor  of  a  Baptist  church,  to  utter  a  few  ge- 
neral complaints  ? 

But,  we  proceed  to  attempt  a  further  justification  of  the 
*'  charges^''  under  consideration,  by  stating  a  few  particulars 
connected  with  the  standing  of  several  of  your  present  or- 
dained, and  leading  ministers  :  and,  however  distinguished 
by  their  talents,  or  to  whatever  respect  they  may  be  enti- 
tled, as  members  of  civil  society,  should  they,  or  either  of 
them,  be  found  out  of  gospel  order,  they  must  recollect, 
that  the  wisdom  which  is  from  above,  is  "  without  partial- 
ity.'^'' James,  iii.  17. 

The  laws  of  Christ,  to  which  we  all  profess  subjection, 
our  discipline,  confession  of  faith,  and  usages,  as  Baptists, 
without  respect  of  persons,  are,  exclusively^  to  influence  our 
opinions,  and  govern  our  decisions.  On  these  grounds,  we 
think  it  our  solemn  duty,  under  existing  circumstances,  to 
present  you  with  a  few  short  extracts  from  the  letters  of 
those  eminent  servants  of  God,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richard 
FuRMAN,  and  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Fuller. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Staughton,  it  is  well  known,  has  for  many 
years,  in  common  with  ourselves,  and  the  Christian  world, 
highly  esteemed  those  excellent  men,  and  will  not,  we  are 
persuaded,  contradict  a  single  clause  of  the  following  ex- 
tracts :  speaking  of  a  Mr.  Staughton,  Dr.  (then  Mr.)  Fur- 
man  proceeds : 

"  The  circumstances  respecting  his  marriage  become  the  subjects 
"  of  strict  enquiry ;  a  letter  from  Dr.  Stillman,  and  another  froni 


20 

"  President  Maxey,  are  very  pointed  on  the  subject.  Dr.  Fo9ter, 
"  it  seems,  has  such  scruples  respecting  Iiim,  that  he  cannot,  as  Dr. 
"  Stillman  observes,  ask  him  to  preach.  I  thought  I  had  communi- 
"  cated  the  circumstance  to  you  respecting  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Staughton» 
"  of  Which  you  requested  to  be  informed.  It  is,  liowever,  just  this : 
*•  they  have  b-'en  excommunicated  by  the  church  at  Birmingham.  A 
*'  letter  from  Mr.  Pierce  informs  me  of  this  :  and  what  gives  me  a 
"  degree  of  pain,  it  was  in  conse(j.uence  of  a  friendly  application  of 
"  mine  to  have  them  dismissed  to  us,  with  the  difficulty  of  the  churcli 
*•  annexed.  Mr.  Pierce  was  in  favour  of  this  measure.  He  moved 
"  for  it,  and  exerted  himself  on  the  occasion,  but  tlie  great  body  of  the 
"  church  were  in  the  opposition,  and  agreed  that  the  case  being  now 
"  brought  before  them,  fiiey  must  decide  on  it  in  a  manner  which  ap- 
"  peared  to  them  consistent  with  duty,  and  the  sense  of  Scripture. 
"  Two  passages  of  Scripture  were  principally  resorted  to  :  "The  wo- 
"  man  is  bound  by  the  law  to  her  husband  as  long;  as  he  liveth  :"  and, 
"  Purge  out  the  old  leaven,  that  ye  may  be  a  new  lump." 

••  Mr.  StaughtDn's  connexion  with  the  lady  to  whom  he  is  married, 
"  is  indeed  extraordinary,  and  the  conduct  romantic ;  gladly  also 
♦•  would  I  have  cleared  my  hands  of  tlie  business,  if  I  could  have  done 
"  it  consistently  :  I  confess  it  was  a  trying  business  to  me,  to  perforin 
"  the  ceremony. 

"  The  idea  of  censure,  which  was  likely  to  arise  against  his  conduct 
"  as  a  minister,  from  the  pulic  mind,  struck  me  forcibly  on  the  occa- 
*•  si  on." 

On  the  subject  of  the  above  connexion,  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Fuller  says  : 

"  To  this  1  could  never  agree,  and  wrote  my  mind  to  Mr.  Staugh- 
"  ton,  because  it  was  taking  on  themselves  to  be  judges  in  their  own 
"  cause.  Who  could  be  certain  that  the  man"  (her  husband)  *'  was  an 
"  adulterer  ?  or  if  he  was,  that  his  wife  had  not  given  him  such  pro- 
"  vocation,  as  though  it  might  not  excuse  him,  yet  might  render  her 
"unentitled  to  marry  another  man?  These  were  questions  which 
"  would  be  examined  if  the  cause  were  tried  before  a  competent  tri- 
"  bunal :  but  to  act  as  he"  (Mr.  Staughton)  "  did,  was  to  be  his  own 
"judge. 

"  True  honour  should  have  prevented  him  from  having  any  thing  to 
"  say  to  a  person  whose  husband  was  living. 

"  If  Dr.  S.  thinks  he  did  right  in  the  affair  for  which  he  was  ei- 
"  eluded,  to  be  sure  he  must  remain  as  he  is  ;  but  if  otherwise,  and  if 
"  he  have  hunulity  enough  to  write  a  frank  acknowledgment  of  his 
"  sin  to  the  church  at  Birmingham,  I  have  no  doubt  of  their  forgiving 
"  him,  and  recommending  him  to  any  other  church  where  he  might 
"  incline  to  settle. 

"  If  he  were  to  return  to  England,  only  acknowledging,  as  above,  I 
"  should  rejoice  to  see  and  hear  him  in  my  pulpit." 

The  letters  before  us,  from  which  the  above  extracts  arc 
taken,  t'cr^f7??w,  are  r/a?cr/ Charleston,  S.  C.  and  Kettering. 


21 

Old  England :  those  from  Charleston,  by  Mr.  Furman, 
March  I'.th,  1794,  Mav  5th,  '94,  Dec.  23d,  '95,  and  Feb. 
5th,  '96 — those  from  Kettermg,  by  Mr.  Fuller,  Nov.  29th, 
1805,  and  Sept.  11th,  lii06. 

We  have  had  access  to  other  letters,  of  very  recent  dates, 
from  great  men  in  England,  of  a  similar  import ;  but  it 
might  seem  even  iitdelicate  to  add  a  single  quotation  to  such 
testimonies  as  the  above  :  and  especially  as  Dr.  Staughton, 
we  must  do  him  the  justice  to  say,  has  never,  that  we  could 
learn,  denied  their  verity.  It  is  merely  from  the  impru- 
dence, and,  we  may  add,  the  wickedness,  of  some  of  his 
friends,  in  denying  these  things,  and  insinuating  that  they 
were  fabricated  by  us,  that  their  appearance,  in  our  defence, 
became  necessary. 

You  may  know,  gentlemen,  but  we  have  yet  to  learn, 
that  Dr.  Staughton  has  been  restored  to  the  church  at  Bir- 
mingham. 

You  may  know,  but  we  have  yet  to  learn,  that  Dr. 
Staugliton  was  regularly  admitted  into  an  American  Bap- 
tist church. 

You  may  know,  but  we  have  yet  to  learn,  that  Dr. 
Sraughton  received  ordination  to  the  sacred  ministry,  at  the 
call  of  a  gospel  church,  in  either  Europe  or  America. 
You,  even  you,  however,  and  your  body,  may  be  as  much 
in  the  dark  on  those  important  points  as  wc ;  and  should 
this,  as  we  suspect,  be  the  case,  it  must  be  allowed,  that 
complaints,  of  a  lax  discipline,  and  its  concomitants, 
amongst  us,  may  not  be  without  cause. 

You  need  not  be  infor'ued,  that  Dr.  Fuller  is  the  cele- 
brated author  of  the  Gospel  its  own  Witness,  nor,  that  Dr. 
Furman  was  the  worthy  President  of  both  our  triennial  con= 
ventions. 

Without  a  commentary  on  the  case  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Staughton,  we  shall  next  bestow  a  minute's  attention  on 
the  Rev  Luther  Rice.  A  sketch  of  this  gentleman  shall  be 
taken  as  drawn  by  the  impartial  hand  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ezra 
Stiles  Ely.    He  says, 

"  A  letter  was  written  about  twenty  days  after  Mr.  Judson'a  im-* 
"  mersion,  and  signed  by  Mr.  Rice,  wherein  mention  is  made  of  what 
"had  happened,  as  a  trying  event :  yet  within  less  than  four  weeks  of 
"  the  date  of  this  letter,  Mr.  Rice  had  followed  him. 


22 

"  Those  who  have  any  knowledge  of  the  Rev.  Luther  Rice,"  con- 
tinues Dr.  Ely,  "  and  of  his  subsequent  labours  and  thriving  in  the 
"  missionary  cause,  will  not  wonder  at^this."  Quarterly  Theological 
Review,  Vol.  I.  p.  93. 

Some  will  probably  consider  the  bullion  words  '•'■  labours^'' 
and  ^^ thriving,''''  which  this  learned  author  imdergirds,  as 
equivalent  to  volumes,  on  the  productive  excursions,  and 
present  state,  of  your  foreign  domestic  missionary.  Thus,  in 
a  work  of  celebrity,  our  Presbyterian  brethren,  throughout 
the  United  States,  are  faithfully  warned  against  over-rating 
the  ^^  labours,''''  or  mistaking  the  object,  of  the  Rev.  Luther 
Rice.  They,  and  those  whom  Dr.  Ely  is  pleased  to  call 
his  "respectable  Baptist  friends,"  will,  in  all  probability,  see 
that  the  "  thriving^''  of  the  handsomely  thriven^  Mr,  Rice, 
shall  not  be  at  their  expense. 

As  our  present  limits  confine  us  to  one  more  case,  tending, 
as  we  suppose,  to  prove  the  justness  of  our  complaints,  in 
1816,  we  shall  select  that  of  the  Rev.  John  King,  who  was 
lately  sent  out  as  2i gentleman  beggar^  under  the  auspices  of 
names  which  offorded  him  many  facilities  to  collect  funds 
in  aid  of  one  of  your  pious  churches  under  pecuniary  em- 
barrassments :  and  here  we  shall  probably  convince  your 
body,  that  she  erred  in  supposing  Mr,  White's  immorality 
to  be  "  unparalleled." 

The  subject  of  our  present  remarks,  stands  on  your  mi- 
nutes of  1818,  as  the  chairman  of  a  delegation  from  one  of 
your  churches,  and  a  licensed  preacher ;  but  pray  why  was 
he  not  exhibited  in  his  true  character,  as  an  ordained  min- 
ister ?  We  know  he  was  ordained,  and  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
White  preached  his  ordination  sermon,  from  Heb.  v.  4. 
*'  No  man  taketh  this  honour  to  himself,  but  he  that  is  call- 
ed of  God,  as  was  Aaron."  Amongst  American  Baptists, 
it  is  peculiar,  we  hope,  to  your  body,  to  furnishja  junction 
of  such  a  text  with  such  ministers. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  King  shall  be  presented  to  your  notice, 
as  portrayed  in  an  instrument  he  was  pleased  to  put  into 
our  hands,  to  defend  his  impeached  morals. 

It  is  dated,  "Philadelphia,  July  10,  1814:"  and  bears 
his  proper  signature.  He  commences  this  defence  of  his 
character,  as  he  considered  it,  as  follows : 


25 

"  Whereas  reports  are  circulated  respecting  my  having  a  wife  in 
"  New  York,  and  coming  to  Philadelphia  and  marrying  another ;  I 
"  therefore  take  the  following  method  to  lay  before  the  world  the  man- 
"  ner  of  my  life  previous  to  my  marriage  with  the  first  woman,  and 
"  my  reasons  for  marrying  the  second." 

Here,  we  see  Mr.  King  has  the  candour  to  confess,  at 
once,  the  sin  of  bigamy  ;  or,  in  other  language,  that  he  has 
two  wives !  But,  if  we  may  believe  an  apostle,  a  bishop 
should  be  the  husband  of  one  wife  :   \  Tim.  iii.  2. 

Had  Mr.  King's  first  wife  been  dead,  or  divorced,  it  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  he  would  have  thought  it  necessa- 
ry to  "  lay  before  the  world,"  his  reasons  for  marrying  an- 
other woman  :  but  as  he  had  been  married  to  two  living 
women,  without  the  intervention  of  a  divorce,  he  rightly 
judged,  that  his  conduct  required,  at  least,  an  apology.  He 
gave  his  wife,  he  informs  us,  "  lines  of  separation ;"  but 
of  the  cause  of  this  separation  he  was  "  his  own  judge.'''' 

As  to  his  manner  of  life  previous  to  his  first  marriage, ' 
he  merely  says,  that  he  was  a  seaman ;  and  the  reason  that 
he  assigns  for  leaving  his  wife  is,  that  she  was  a  woman  of 
ill  fame  ;  but  of  this,  he  is  the  only  witness !  Should  this 
method  of  doing  business,  receive  any  thing  which  might 
be  mistaken  for  the  sanction  of  your  body,  it  would  cer- 
tainly furnish  great  facilities  for  the  dissolution  of  matrimo- 
nial contracts.  Either  of  the  parties,  in  such  an  event, 
might  abandon  the  other,  on  the  most  accommodating  terms. 

It  further  appears,  from  Mr.  King's  statements,  that,  a 
considerable  time  after  his  second  marriage,  his  first  wife 
claimed  him  as  her  husband ;  and,  on  consulting,  he  ob- 
serves, an  attorney  at  law,  the  validity  of  her  claim,  was,  on 
all  hands,  admitted.  With  reference  to  his  second  choice, 
Mr,  King  says, 

"  I  did  no  longer  consider  her  my  wife  for  ever,  and  if  I  had  through 
"  ignorance,  been  living  in  a  state  of  adultery  ten  years,  now  that  I 
"  had  found  out  the  evil,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  correct  the  error." 

Through  ignorance,  it  would  appear,  he  lived  ten  years 
in  adultery  !  But  when  he  found,  in  the  light  of  common 
law,  that  to  live  so,  was  an  evil,  he  set  an  example  to  all  in 
the  same  state,  by  candidly  saying,  "  I  thought  it  my  duty 
to  correct  the  error."     It  was,  indeed,  high  time  to  set 


24 

about  the  work  of  reformation  :  but  many  who  would  ab- 
hor an  odious  transgression,  committed  recently,  wouM al- 
most, or  quite  excuse  it,  on  the  olea  ol  antiquity  !  On  this 
ground,  Mr.  King  is  entitled  to  comparative  praise.  V^'hen 
he  discovered,  in  the  course  of  ten  years,  that  it  was  an  evil 
to  live  in  adultery,  or,  at  the  very  least,  an  "  error ^'*  he 
thought  it  his  duty  "  to  correct  it.'^  After  all,  however, 
duty,  in  this  instance,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  had  to  give 
place  to  inclination. 

We  understand  he  has  formed  an  alliance  with  a  fair 
lady,  and  turned  his  back  on  both  those  sable  dames,  who 
had  previously  received  his  attentions  !  With  this  third 
lady  it  cannot  be  denied,  that  he  now  lives  in  Philadelphia. 

It  is  true  he  has  been  excommunicated,  but  without  cor- 
recting the  *'  errors,^^  arising  from  his  gallantries,  he  has 
been  restored  to  the  fellowship  of  your  churches.  Yes  :  he 
is  now  acknowledged,  in  his  ministerial  character,  by  your 
large  and  orthodox  community  ! 

Judge  what  the  feelings  of  real  friends  to  order  must 
have  been,  when  they  saw  him  sitting  in  1818,  amongst 
your  leading  characters,  as  a  delegate,  and  the  chairman  of 
a  delegation.  He,  no  doubt,  very  cordially  united  with  the' 
majority  of  your  body,  in  condemning  all  those  "  vocifer- 
ous" characters,  who  had  '■'loiidlif^  complained  of  a  lax 
discipline,  and  the  want  of  a  visible  standard  of  morals,  in 
some  of  your  churches  ! !  !  And  still,  he  is  entitled  to  the 
privileges,  of  at  least  a  licensed  preacher,  in  your  commu- 
nity  ! 

Here,  we  hope,  we  may  safely  close  the  testimony  in  jus- 
tification of  our  remarks,  which  you  cannot  but  consider  as 
a  "  cruel  libel,"  on  your  body. 

If  you,  gentlemen,  and  the  churches,  will  not  be  con- 
vinced by  the  aforesaid  cloud  of  witnesses,  that  when  those 
remarks  were  made,  there  was  much  amiss  within  the 
bounds  of  your  churches,  this  conviction  would  not  be  in- 
duced, were  as  many  more  to  rise  from  the  dead,  and  bear 
similar  testimonies. 

All  that  remains,  is  for  us  to  give  you,  and  the  public, 
the  assurance,  that  amongst  the  eighteen  delegates  whose 
name??  were  not  suftered  to  appear  on  your  pages,  are  thosr 


25 

of  citizens  who  have  occupied  the  seats  of  legislation  in 
in  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvanin ;  sat  in  the  Com- 
mon and  Select  Councils  of  the  metropolis,  and  held  ap- 
pointments of  high  responsibility  under  the  government 
of  the  United  States. 

Without  their  leave,  we  shall  venture  to  say,  that  they 
stand,  and  have  long  deservedly  stood,  high,  in  civil  and 
religious  society,  as  men  of  unimpeachable  veracity,  and 
sterling  worth.  From  a  regard  to  personal  delicacy,  we 
have  alluded  to  but  a  part  of  those  names  you  so  wisebj 
kept  out  of  view.  They  are  all,  however  in  full  fellow- 
ship with  each  other,  and  had  you  given  them  a  place  in 
any  part  of  your  letter,  it  would  have  rendered  it  perfect- 
ly harmless. 

We  shall  conclude  by  referring  you  to  the  report,  they 
unanimously  made,  on  their  return  to  the  church  they  re- 
presented in  your  body,  that  you  may  realize  the  temerity 
which  has  contradicted  it,  in  your  corresponding  letter. 
See  Misrepresentations  Exposed,  page  44-5. 

There  you  will  see  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Rogers, 
Messrs.  George  Ingels,  John  M'Leod,  Joseph  Keen,  Hugh 
Gourley,  Levi  Garrett,  Joseph  S.  Walter,  Thomas  Brown, 
Joseph  Reynolds,  John  Davis,  Elijah  Griffiths,  William 
Duncan,  David  Johns,  Henry  Benner,  Silas  W.  Sexton, 
William  S.  Hansell,  Thomas  Wattson,  David  Weatherly, 
Samuel  W.  Keen,  and,  were  it  of  any  use,  after  such  names, 
we  might  add,  gentlemen,  your  very  humble  servant, 

HENRY  HOLCOMBE. 


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